wreck

Log This Dive

HMS BEN ARDNA (PROBABLY)

The HMS Ben Ardna is a proper piece of history, resting upright on a sandy seabed at 19 metres. It’s an old trawler, requisitioned by the Admiralty, that met its end in a collision off the Tyne in 1942. We love that you can still feel the weight of its past down there. What divers experience here is a true wreck dive, relatively intact and surprisingly sheltered from the worst of the North Sea's moods. You'll descend onto the deck, which is now heavily colonised by plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying gently in the dim light. Look into the hold; it’s often filled with schooling coalfish, darting in and out of the shadows. Around the stern, we've spotted good-sized conger eels tucked into crevices, their heads peering out. The structure itself is a classic trawler profile, offering plenty of nooks and crannies to explore for anyone who appreciates maritime heritage and the marine life that now calls it home. This site is a great choice for divers comfortable with UK wreck diving, offering a decent penetration for those suitably trained and equipped.