Throughout the diving related pages, I have recorded just a portion of the many shipwrecks that lie off this part of the coast. With so many shipwrecks I can but present just small look at some of the shipwrecks along this coast. Along with inclement weather and poor navigation and Two World Wars over 300 vessel losses are reported off this part of the Yorkshire coast. The waters around Whitby provide dive sites of varying quality and standards to encompass all individual requirements. Due to it's small size it is relatively easy to travel from one dive site to another, giving divers the opportunity to travel for one, or more, interesting dive sites. The dive season generally starts around May and ends around September it is possible, of course, to dive outside of this, but due to adverse weather and sea conditions it is not very appealing.
Diving off Whitby is best done after a prolonged spell of gentle south-westerly winds, if this is followed by a light easterly wind then good visibility can be assured. However a northerly blow can and probably will reduce underwater visibility to almost nil, this can take a long time to settle. Tidal movements can also cause problems as quite a few dives require slack water (Two hours after low or high water) there is also the problem of spring tides which means such a movement of water often reduces the visibility anyway. Don't let all this put you off though, as there are some spectacular dives waiting for you. The harbour slipway is not too bad, but is best avoided at the lower stages of the tide. The town had its own BSAC branch up until 2005, it is pretty sad that a port with such a unique maritime heritage no longer has its own diving club. Whitby is of course well served with accommodation available to suit all pockets ranging from a bunkhouse, camping sites, through to guesthouses and hotels for visiting divers contemplating longer stay.
Whitby Harbour Entrance / 54 29 660 N 000 36 762 W
Whitby Bell Buoy / 54 30 762 N 000 36 580 W
NOTE:Care should be taken when crossing Whitby Rock and going to any of the wrecks South of Whitby, many vessels have foundered when running onto Whitby Rock. Boats should go out towards Whitby Bell Buoy before crossing safely round the rock
| NAME | LATITUDE |
LONGITUDE |
DEPTH (m) |
| ROHILLA | 54 29 977 54 29 730 54 30 271 54 30 772 54 31 599 54 32 780 54 32 185 54 32 906 54 32 220 54 25 900 54 25 720 54 24 194 54 22 985 54 33 083 54 38 389 54 32 022 54 34 800 54 35 998 54 33 110 54 33 070 54 35 520 54 35 133 54 33 655 54 34 267 54 38 083 54 37 607 54 32 351 54 32 521 |
000 35 360 000 37 130 000 36 126 000 37 158 000 40 131 000 42 533 000 43 372 000 42 447 000 41 300 000 30 583 000 29 172 000 28 199 000 26 581 000 37 241 000 43 290 000 35 671 000 47 509 000 41 265 000 38 049 000 33 030 000 47 800 000 47 060 000 39 948 000 41 447 000 53 341 000 53 353 000 35 671 000 39 148 |
8 -15 6 - 12 27 - 33 28 - 34 23 - 28 6 - 12 3 - 12 25 - 35 23 28 8 - 15 24 - 29 4 - 15 24 - 36 44 - 48 42 46 40 - 50 48 - 50 35 - 46 34 - 37 46 - 49 46 - 51 24 - 36 33 - 42 43 - 50 38 - 42 20 - 38 47 - 52 37 - 42 |
No visit to Whitby would be complete without a trip to Whitby's most famous wreck, the hospital ship the "Rohilla". A commissioned liner lost early Friday morning on the 30th October 1914. During wartime blackouts she was caught in a severe Southeast gale when she ran onto reef just a mile south of the harbour. Many heroic rescues were made to save those on board, with quite a few losses. The inshore end of the wreck lies in about 6 metres whilst the seaward end sits in around 15 metres, there are very large boilers to be seen, with lots of wreckage left.
The Swedish cargo vessel Skane ran aground onto Whitby Rock on the 30th November 1915 in fine weather? local fishermen tried to refloat the ship but couldn't as she had been holed. A tug towed the ship off the next day and had to beach it, the weather worsened and the sea became really rough. The ship eventually became a total loss and much salvage has been done to remove the wreck from the beach however quite a bit can still be seen and this makes an easy dive, diveable in all states of the tide. Good for trainees and for those wishing to finish off their air on a third dive.
Built in Hartlepool, the Polruan was used as a collier until October 25 1916 when she foundered after striking Whitby Rock. A Board of Trade inquiry decided that whilst this was probably the case, they would discount that it may have struck a mine, this wreck like the wreck of the "Rohilla" is one which is owned by local divers. Average depth for this wreck is between 27 - 30 metres. This is a slack water dive and although well broken there is still quite a lot of wreckage to be seen over a large area, not a dive for novices, but good for those seeking some depth with lots of wreckage. Lying just to the east of Whitby Bell Buoy this wreck is only a short distance from the Harbour eliminating lengthy boat journeys.
Confusion surrounds the name of this wreck, known locally as the Steeple-in-street due to the transits used to locate it. The sparrow also known as the "Spero" and was lost on the 13th of January 1923. Wreckage is quite big however care should be taken when diving this wreck as it normally shrouded in nets. But they are the old heavy type and can be seen unlike the modern "monofilament" type, this tends to be a dark wreck so a good torch is needed, again this wreck should only be dived during slack water. General depth is between 27 - 32 metres.
Most clubs visiting Whitby will dive the wreck of the German Submarine the UC 70 which lies in around 25 metres general depth, sat upright, this is a really good dive and one which is highly recommended. The UC 70 was spotted by a seaplane, which dropped a bomb large enough to sustain critical damage; this was followed up by depth charges from the destroyer HMS Ouse. The submarine went down all hands on August 28 1918, and is a war grave and should be respected as such local fisherman have quite strong feelings about divers and the submarine. The hatches are open and you can see inside her but under NO circumstances should any attempt be made to enter the wreck. The gun sits on top and is well worth inspection, a slack water dive that is sometimes buoyed by the local charter boat. There is normally a shoal of "Bib" or Pollack around the Stern.
The wreck of the Giraldo was torpedoed on August 28 1918, 5 miles north of Whitby possibly by the UC 70. It sank with the loss of six men, however 13 were saved, and some confusion surrounds stories that the wreck was beached some half a mile from where she now lies. Sitting in around 13 metres this wreck is good for novices, although quite broken up and scattered it makes for an interesting dive, which can be, dived at most stages of the tides excluding springs.
During thick fog the Viola went aground just half a mile south of Kettleness point on the 19th September 1903. Carrying iron ore from Spain, the wreck became a total loss two weeks after running aground. The wreck is in around 8 metres surrounded by the scar, this can make identification difficult when using a sounder, this is best dived on a flood tide however can be dived during most stages of the tide. Well broken up but still worth a rummage good for trainees and those who wish take it easy.
During an attempt to escape a German submarine the Vanland struck Kettleness Point just as a torpedo hit her killing six men, as a lifeboat went to the aid of the stricken vessel a submarine was reportedly seen outside the bay. After burning for a week she eventually sank. The wreck lies just inside Kettleness Point in only 5 metres with little left, it still remains a nice little scenic dive with quite a bit of marine life to be seen, diveable at any time.
The African Transport was torpedoed on June 25 th 1918, the wreck is a large wreck over 4400 tons gross, she was armed for defence and now lies 5 miles north of Whitby and 2 miles off shore in 27 - 33 metres. The gun has been removed by the owner a local diver and now sits on a memorial plinth on the foreshore. This dive is not for the novice, requiring slack water it tends to in a dark area irrespective of the weather, good torches are required, there is lots of wreckage to see, this wreck can sometimes be fouled with net care must be taken.
Torpedoed when running in ballast and sunk by German submarine off Runswick Bay on 26th January 1918. The Athos sits well broken with some quite large bits of wreckage, although generally dark it still makes a good dive for sport divers or above, a slack water dive in 25 metres general depth.
Round in Robin Hoods Bay is the wreck of the Britannia, which struck rocks and backed off but sank in deeper water. At one point just the masts where visible, a lot of salvage was done and the wreck now lies in around 8 metres well scattered but is uncovered from time to time after storms, good for novices, can be dived any time.
After colliding with another vessel in February 1941 the Paris was beached but became a total loss. Not a great deal remains today and the wreck is sand scoured although like the Brittania can be uncovered after storms. The wreck is easy to find as during low springs it breaks the surface although visibility then is generally nil, best dived on neaps during which it lies in around 6 metres. Whilst it can be dived as a shore dive it can be a bit of a trek over rocks.
Sat in the middle of the bay the wreck of the Paul is in around 30 metres. The wreck is generally buoyed by Scarborough yacht club it makes a good dive although on race days it can be quite busy, some wreckage stands 3 - 4 metres high, this dive is another slack water dive. The wrecks down at Robin Hoods Bay are not dived as much as some because of the duration time for getting here from Whitby Harbour so tend to be quieter.
During a storm the Fred Everard ran aground under the cliffs of Ravenscar, after breaking her back. The became a total loss, and now sits in around 8 metres although well broken up it is a very good dive as there is a lot of recognisable wreckage including the masts and blocks, the bow section houses some impressive anchors, one still sat in it's hawser pipe. Care should be taken when approaching the wreck for the first time as the wreck sometimes dries at low water. the wreck can be dived at any time and is great for clubs and novices.
On August the 14th 1918 the Wallsend was torpedoed by the German submarine the UB - 104, just half a mile of Ravenscar. The wreck now sits in 27 - 30 metres with the bows upside down and the stern on it's port side, the Wallsend was armed for defence and the gun lies on the sea bed just to the stern of the wreck. This wreck must be dived at slack water and is quite a good dive with plenty of wreckage to be seen.
The Afrique was a 2457-ton French steamer built in 1911. A German torpedo sank her on June 12th 1918. She is a Slack Water dive.
A 2114 Spanish steamer the Anboto Mendi was torpedoed off Runswick Bay on 10th May 1918. She was 275ft long, with a beam of 41ft and that wreck is a Slack Water dive. This wreck shows up well on echo sounders.
This collier was lost to a mine on January 12th 1917. She was inevitably one of the first casualties of the year. She is a Slack Water dive.
The Deptford was a steamer, which became stranded on Whitby rock. Although she was refloated she sank of Boulby, Staithes on March 13th 1862. She is reportedly standing 4 metres of the seabed. She should only be dived at slack water.
The Audax was a 3-masted schooner armed for defence. She was torpedoed on September 6th 1918 round of Robin Hoods Bay. She is a Slack Water dive.
The Ellida was a Norwegian steamship of 1124 tons, which was sunk by a torpedo of Runswick bay on April 19th 1917, and it is like the many wrecks off this part off the coast, a slack water dive
This wreck was an armed collier, which was torpedoed on December 8th 1917. She was 281ft long, with a beam of 40ft, this is a Slack Water dive
Whilst on duty as a hired trawler she was reportedly mined on July 24th 1918. She is a Slack Water dive.
This vessel was torpedoed on January 26th 1918. She had survived an earlier attack from a sea-plane, which had attempted to torpedo her on June 9th 1917. She was armed for defence. She should only be dived at slack water.
The wreck of the Hercules can be found approximately three miles north of Whitby. She was another victim of the dreaded U-boats. She was lost on December 30th 1917. She is a Slack Water dive and should only be attempted by experienced divers. This wreck is always dark, however it stands quite proud.
This 203 ton steamer was caught in a severe gale. The bad weather prevented the lifeboats from launching and the vessel went down with all her six crew. She is a Slack Water dive and should only be attempted by experienced divers. She sits upright on a rock seabed. The bridge has collapsed, but it is still an interesting dive.
Ex DUNELM, 971 tons, the vessel built 1916, acquired by Stone & Rolfe Ltd in 1934 and was lost in collision off Whitby. Reports indicate the vessel was lost on March 15th 1942. She is a Slack Water dive.
This wreck is probably the most recent wreck off this coast. She was a large Roll on - Roll off ferry, that became disabled with an engine room fire. The boat burned for five days helped along by her cargo of wood and giant paper rolls. Eventually there was a large explosion sending her to the seabed. She is a Slack Water dive. The wreck was dispersed, as it was a danger to shipping but there is still a lot to be seen. The seabed is at 40 metres, although the wreck can be reached at 20 metres. It is a decent dive and stands quite proud of the seabed.
The wreck of the UB 30 is sitting upright three miles out of Whitby. The German submarine sits upright and is very intact with her hatches open. The submarine is filled up with silt ( it lies close to a spoil ground frequently used by the local harbour dredger) however NO attempt should be made to enter the wreck. She is a war grave and is a dive which should only be attempted on " Slack Water". The wreck is for experienced divers only, and should be treated with respect, sadly a personal and well respected local diver was lost on the wreck in 1992.
The Venetia was a 3595 ton Glasgow steamer, which was torpedoed on December 9th 1917. Like many merchant ships she was armed for defence. Her dimensions were 353ft long with a beam of 45ft. She is a Slack Water dive. The wreck is spread over a large area and requires a few dives to see it all. It is a good dive for those starting to venture into decompression diving.
