ALASKAN
Protected Area
Durham
Why dive here
With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - ALASKAN offers some of Scottish East Coast & Borders's richest wreck diving.
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.
Typical ALASKAN Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Maximum depth 43m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
ALASKAN Wreck History
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to ALASKAN
Dive shops near ALASKAN
Sunderland Scuba Centre
The Diving Centre Ltd
Aquanorth
Scuba-Life
Aqua Purists
Newcastle University Sub Aqua Society
Reviews for ALASKAN
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ALASKAN
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