BACALAO - Bornholm

The **Bacalao**, off Bornholm, is our pick for a proper wreck dive in Danish waters. It’s a fishing vessel, not some grand ocean liner, but that’s precisely what gives it character. Dropping to 40 meters, you’ll find it mostly intact, upright, and just begging for exploration. We love the way the light filters through the superstructure, illuminating schools of cod that patrol the decks, often joined by large lumpsuckers clinging to the plating. This isn't a deep penetration dive, but you can get your head into the wheelhouse and engine room, feeling the tight confines of a working boat. We always find conger eels peering out from beneath collapsed sections, a little wary but curious. The visibility here can surprise you, often holding at 15-20 meters, especially outside of the summer plankton blooms. We’d suggest diving this one on a calm day; the surface can get choppy, making the entry and exit less pleasant. This wreck suits advanced divers comfortable with depth and overhead environments, offering a real sense of history beneath the waves.

Location
Bornholm, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.114400, 14.400600
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
40m

Wreck History - BACALAO

Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
unknown

Resting in the cold, dark waters of the Baltic Sea off the Danish island of Bornholm, the Bacalao is a wreck for the experienced diver. The name, meaning 'codfish' in Spanish and Portuguese, perfectly suits its former life as a fishing vessel, though the specific details of its career and its sinking remain a mystery. Sitting upright at a depth of 40 meters, this site is at the edge of recreational limits and is often explored by those with deep or technical diving certifications.

The dive is a challenging but rewarding one. The visibility in the Baltic can be excellent, revealing the ship's ghostly silhouette as you descend. The Bacalao is remarkably well-preserved in the cold, low-salinity water, with its nets and fishing gear still visible. It has become an artificial reef, attracting the very fish it once sought to catch. Exploring this lonely vessel in the deep silence offers a profound connection to the maritime history of this famous fishing ground.

Marine Protected Area: Hvideodde Rev

Best Time to Dive in Bornholm

The warmest water temperatures in Bornholm occur in January, averaging 3.3°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 3.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 3.3°C (air: 3.1°C)
  • February: 3.3°C (air: 3.2°C)
  • March: 3.3°C (air: 3.9°C)
  • April: 3.3°C (air: 6.0°C)
  • May: 3.3°C (air: 10.9°C)
  • June: 3.3°C (air: 16.1°C)
  • July: 3.3°C (air: 17.4°C)
  • August: 3.3°C (air: 18.0°C)
  • September: 3.3°C (air: 15.7°C)
  • October: 3.3°C (air: 11.5°C)
  • November: 3.3°C (air: 7.1°C)
  • December: 3.3°C (air: 3.5°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Bornholm

Nearest Dive Centres to BACALAO

Marine Life in Bornholm

Home to 67 recorded species including 43 reef fish, 7 clams & mussels, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 crabs & lobsters, 2 starfish, 2 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BACALAO

Based on average water temperature of 3.3°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 3°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories