ALBANO - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The Albano is a serious wreck dive, no doubt about it. Dropping onto her from the surface, the whole ship unfolds below you, resting upright and mostly intact on a flat seabed at 49 metres. We love that she’s a proper historical piece, sunk by a German mine back in 1940. You’ll find the triple expansion engine still standing proud amidships, a real testament to her robust build. Visibility here, as with many North Sea dives, can vary wildly, but when it’s good, it’s truly atmospheric. Picture the massive boiler looming out of the gloom, now home to clouds of cod and pollack darting through the rusted steel. The bow and stern sections offer plenty of points for exploration, though given the depth, keeping a close eye on your no-decompression limits is key. We’d suggest this dive for experienced cold-water wreck enthusiasts who appreciate a deep, relatively undisturbed piece of maritime history rather than colourful corals. Expect strong currents sometimes; plan your slack water window carefully. It’s a dive that rewards good technique and a bit of patience.

Location
Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.256443, -1.367806
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
49m

Wreck History - ALBANO

Year Sunk
1940
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

The SS Albano was a steamship built in 1912 by Earl's Co Ltd in Hull for the Ellerman Wilson Line, a major British shipping company. Powered by a triple-expansion engine, the Albano was a workhorse of the merchant fleet, plying trade routes between the UK and continental Europe for nearly three decades.

Its civilian service came to a violent end in the early months of World War II. On March 2, 1940, while on a voyage from Hull to Bergen, Norway, the Albano was spotted by the German U-boat U-20. It was torpedoed and sunk, becoming another victim of the Battle of the Atlantic which sought to cripple Britain's vital supply lines.

The wreck of the Albano now lies deep, at 49 meters off the Scottish East Coast. This is a challenging technical dive reserved for experienced, suitably qualified divers. The cold, dark waters of the North Sea have preserved the wreck remarkably well, but conditions can be demanding with strong currents and limited visibility. Those who make the descent are rewarded with a view of a largely intact WWII casualty, sitting upright on the seabed.

Marine Protected Area: Northumbria Coast

Nearby Dive Sites in Scottish East Coast & Borders

Nearest Dive Centres to ALBANO

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