Wreck of William Allen

Protected Area

Morroch Bay

Why dive here

With 118+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - Wreck of William Allen offers some of Northumberland & Northeast's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 118+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The William Allen, sitting proud off the Northumberland coast, is a proper North Sea wreck. We love it because it’s one of those sites where you feel the history, even through a drysuit hood. She’s an old steam coaster, sunk back in 1917, and the way she’s settled upright makes for some fantastic penetration if you’re properly trained and equipped. Swim through her engine room, past boilers encrusted with dead man’s fingers, and imagine the stokers working down there. What really makes the William Allen sing for us is the sheer number of cod and ling that call her home. They’re often huge, lazy fish, just hanging out in the gloom, barely bothering to move as you glide by. Look closely in the nooks and crannies for wolf fish – we’ve spotted them peeking out more than once. Visibility can be a typical North Sea mix, from a pea-souper to a decent 10 metres on a good day, but even when it’s dim, the sheer size of the wreck and the amount of life make it a truly immersive dive. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits and is best for experienced wreck divers comfortable with colder water and overhead environments.