HMS NORTHUMBRIA

Protected Area

Isle of May

Why dive here

With 112+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, ocean sunfish (mola mola) and orcas - HMS NORTHUMBRIA offers some of Scottish East Coast & Borders's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeDolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales, Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) and Orcas · 112+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 34m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The HMS Northumbria, resting at 34 metres off the Scottish East Coast, is a proper dive, certainly one of our favourites in the area. This armed patrol sweeper, sunk by a mine in 1917, is largely intact, which is always a bonus when you're exploring wrecks from this era. We love how the stern section has opened up, giving you a chance to fin through parts of the engine room if you're comfortable with overhead environments and your buoyancy is dialled in. You'll find plenty of life making a home here. Ling often lurk in the deeper nooks, and the plates are carpeted with plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying with the gentle surge. Visibility can be a bit of a gamble, as it often is in these waters, but when it's good, say 8-10 metres, the Northumbria is a genuinely atmospheric dive. The bow section, with its sweeping lines, is particularly photogenic, especially when a curious pollack swims into view. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of a current; best tackled on a neap tide.