ALASKAN - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The *Alaskan*, a substantial fishing vessel, sits upright in 43 metres, a silent sentinel from a bygone era. She met her end in 1941, mined during WWII, and now offers a fantastic deep wreck dive off the Scottish East Coast. Descending through that green water, the wreck slowly emerges, a dark shape against the gloom, the superstructure still largely intact. We love exploring her bridge area, often cloaked in plumose anemones, their feathery tentacles swaying with the gentle surge. Visibility here can be a bit of a lottery, as it often is in these parts. Pick your day and aim for a slack tide; you’ll have a much more relaxed dive without fighting the current. We’ve seen respectable cod sheltering in her holds and inquisitive wolf fish peeking from beneath plates of twisted metal. It’s a proper expedition dive, well-suited to experienced wreck divers comfortable with depth and the chill of the North Sea. Our favourite part has to be the sheer scale of her, a powerful reminder of the working ships that once plied these waters.

Location
Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
54.813450, -1.118308
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
43m

Wreck History - ALASKAN

Year Sunk
1941
Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
mine

The Alaskan was a fishing vessel that became an unsuspecting casualty of the Second World War. While navigating the productive but perilous waters of the North Sea on March 25, 1941, her crew was focused on their catch, not the invisible dangers lurking below. The vessel struck a German mine, and the resulting explosion sent her to the bottom, a tragic loss of a civilian vessel to the indiscriminate conflict.

Today, the Alaskan rests in 43 meters of water off the Scottish coast, a dive reserved for experienced technical divers. The cold, nutrient-rich waters that she once fished are now responsible for the vibrant life that covers her remains. Divers descending through the deep, green water will find a wreck adorned with plumose anemones, Dead Man's Fingers, and sheltering large cod and ling. It is a poignant and challenging dive, offering a glimpse into a wartime tragedy far from the main battlefields.

Marine Protected Area: Durham

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish East Coast & Borders

Nearest Dive Centres to ALASKAN

Marine Life in Scottish East Coast & Borders

Home to 126 recorded species including 53 reef fish, 12 whales & dolphins, 10 seagrass & algae, 10 sharks & rays, 9 crabs & lobsters, 8 other.

Notable Species