KING JAMES - Scottish East Coast & Borders

The King James, lying at 45 metres, is a proper dive, a deep trawler wreck that takes you back to a different era. We love how intact she is, despite the U-boat torpedo that sent her down in 1916. Dropping onto the deck, you really get a sense of her scale, the hull still largely together. We always find the bow particularly dramatic, rising up from the seabed, often with huge schools of coalfish swirling around it like a living curtain. Visibility can be a real gift here, occasionally pushing 15 metres, which at this depth feels like diving in an aquarium. Even on a dimmer day, the structure itself is so interesting. You can poke your head into the hold, imagining the catch she never brought home, or follow the lines of the railing, now encrusted with dead man's fingers and colourful jewel anemones. It's a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind the chill, an excellent choice for experienced wreck divers looking for something beyond your typical shallower coastal sites. Just watch the tide; slack water is your friend for a relaxed exploration.

Location

Scottish East Coast & Borders, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe

Coordinates

54.835114, -1.108311

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

45m

Marine Protected Area: Durham