Germany
Germany is not an obvious choice as a diving destination. Indeed, many diving clubs only conduct training in Germany and travel abroad for open water diving.
However, Germany does boast a coastline on the Baltic and offers the opportunity for some good wreck diving. Inland, there are many lakes and flooded quarries that, while not being inspiring dive sites, provide training opportunities. Cave diving is also popular in some areas of the country.
THE BALTIC COAST
The Baltic conceals many shipwrecks and, even now, many virgin wrecks are waiting to be discovered. Diving conditions vary with visibility up to 15 metres in the early part of the year, declining towards the autumn. Water temperatures range from 2 ° C in March, rising to 20 °C on the surface in summer. Depths below 25 metres will always be dark.
Kiel Area. Kiel is a popular launching point for RIBs and has a number of wrecks within reasonable transit time.
The HELLAND at 54 29 35 N, 10 16 30 E, 50 minutes transit, is the wreck of a large motor yacht. It lies in 20 metres and has been swept to 16 metres.
The HANAU is further away at 54 31 07 N, 10 28 17 E, 70 minutes transit. This is the wreck of a 6,000 ton German steam ship that struck a mine in 1944. Although the wreck is well broken at a depth of 16 metres, swept to 12 metres, it is still worth the long transit.
Closer to shore, the lighthouse offers a flat, sandy seabed at about 18 metres which is good for deep training drills but not a lot else.
Eckenforde Bucht. West of Kiel is the Eckenforde Bucht. Sites here can be dived from a slipway at Klien Waabs.
The kitchen wreck at 54 30 55 N, 10 05 34 E, 15 minutes transit, is one of the most popular Baltic wrecks. The wreck was named for the large amount of crockery found on the site and is still partially intact lying in 16 metres.
The NORDLAND at 54 29 23 N, 09 58 01 E, 25 minutes transit, was sunk in 1945. Well broken in 29 metres of water it still has recognisable features including mast and bulkheads. A good lamp is required on this site.
Fehman. East of Kiel lies the small peninsula of Fehman. A number of wrecks can be reached from slipways on the northern and southern side.
The LINDINGO at 54 32 51 N, 11 19 56 E, 15 minutes transit, was a 6,000 ton Swedish steamship sunk in 1946. The wreck is well broken in 29 metres of water and stretches over an area of 100 metres x 30 metres. A good lamp is required on this site and divers should beware of fishing nets that are frequently lost here.
An unknown wreck lies at 54 31 19 N, 11 24 45 E, 15 minutes transit. Believed to be a similar ship to the LINDINGO, the wreck is well broken but offers plenty to see. At 28 metres the site is again very dark.
The GRETHE KLITGARD at 54 39 50 N, 11 12 00 E, 25 minutes transit, was a wooden Swedish fishing boat. The wreck stands with a slight list to starboard, 6 metres proud of the seabed at 18 metres.
Fishing Vessel 0718 at 54 21 36 N, 11 35 07 E, 45 minutes transit, is one of the nest dives in the Baltic. The wreck is intact, covered in marine growth, and stands 15 metres proud of the 26 metres seabed.
AROUND THE BALTIC
Further away from land, the Baltic offers some excellent wreck diving opportunities. Diving vessels can be chartered from German ports to allow access to these sites.
The Polish coast has many wrecks, one typical example is the Cypriot Freighter at 54 22 80 N, 16 14 20 E. The wreck is upside down in 20 metres of water, broken in half and penetration is possible.
The island of Bornholm between Poland and Sweden is a divers' paradise with many wrecks. One of the more unusual is a Russian Zulu 4 Class submarine at 55 14 72 N, 14 39 43 E. The submarine was under tow to the wrecker's yard when it sank and now stands upright in 38 metres of water, the hull coated in shellfish.
COUNTRY FACTS
Getting There. Most UK visitors will arrive overland having driven through Holland or France. Those intending to dive in the Kiel area can catch an 18 hour ferry from UK to Hamburg which reduces the drive time.
Non - Diving Activities. In good weather it is possible to enjoy the sunshine while sitting on a Baltic beach. Away from the coast Germany offers a wide range of tourist activities and a vibrant night life.
Currency. The Euro.
Medical. Form E111 will be required.
(Thanks to Steve Roberts for technical information on many of the sites listed here.)
Jon Gunns
BSAC Travel Club Correspondent
October 2003
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Baltic Adventure
Germany Calling
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