BACALAO
Protected Area
Hvideodde Rev
Why dive here
With 66+ marine species recorded in the area - including jellyfish lake - BACALAO offers some of Bornholm's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 3-18°C, warmest July, August, September.
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.
Typical BACALAO Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (40m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 14°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
BACALAO Wreck History
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.
Reviews for BACALAO
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BACALAO
BACALAO Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for BACALAO, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (54.94, 13.85) (7km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
14°C
57°F · Range: 11.7–16.3°C
Air Temperature
12°C
53°F
Wind Speed
8.16 m/s
15.9 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1013.3 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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