Somali Wreck

Dive at slack-water only. The Somali lies about 1800 metres offshore, due east of Beadnell village. The seabed is sand/shale with small reefs. The vessel is well broken, the engine and boilers being the biggest identifiable parts. These show up well on an echo-sounder, types with a wide-beam sensor make location easier. A 4 inch gun is still visible at the stern, - although now lying on its side among the debris on the west side of the wreckage; its partner seems to have disappeared or is now buried under plates, no doubt the result of salvage work on the cargo which occurs from time to time. The engine is home to large pollack and bib and stands about 35 metres away across piles of girders, pipes, gas cylinders, plates and what seems to be a cement bag reef (cargo). The areas east, and south of the engine are good for rummaging - producing assorted bottles (medicine?), cosmetics jars, film, cutlery, wine bottles and ceramic electrical fittings. Part of the cargo must have been vehicle batteries and tyres as there seems to be rather a lot of them around. Rumour has it that a microscope was found here some years ago. South & west of the engine are the five huge boilers - still intact, beyond these the wreckage is well scattered and less piled-up, it's easy to swim off the wreck and loose it in this area if the vis is poor so don't venture too far. The wreck is home to large pollack, cod, bib and shoals of saithe during the summer. As a result it's popular with anglers so beware of discarded line and hooks. Farne Isles. She is usually buoyed but this only surfaces at or close to slack water - often too late to get two waves of divers in. If you're (un)fortunate enough to be the first or only ones on site, the best tactic is to drop a buoyed shot at the GPS position and do a circular search with the 'sounder around this until you get a trace then drop anchor there. She lies approximately N-S, the stern being to the north. Somali Wreck is also known as The Somali.