BERTHA - Bornholm

Bertha is one of those wrecks that just screams history. Lying at a comfortable 13 metres, she's a fantastic dive for anyone keen to explore a piece of wartime past without needing technical skills. We love how accessible she is, making it easy to spend a full dive just poking around her structure. You’ll find Bertha fairly broken up, but the bow and stern sections are still distinct. It's not a ship where you'll be penetrating intact cabins, but rather exploring the skeletal remains. What really makes Bertha special for us is the way marine life has claimed her. Schools of cod hang out in the deeper sections of the wreck, often just sitting there, letting you get a good look. We’ve also seen some impressive flatfish camouflaged against the seabed near her hull. Visibility can swing a bit here, so aim for a calm day to really appreciate the details. Our favourite part? The scattered debris field around her. Take your time, sometimes you find the most interesting bits just off the main wreck. She's a poignant reminder of the dangers of wartime shipping, now a thriving artificial reef.

Location
Bornholm, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.691753, 12.679445
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
13m

Wreck History - BERTHA

Year Sunk
1941
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
mined

The steamship Bertha is a casualty of the Second World War, a period when the Baltic Sea was a tense and dangerous theater of naval operations. On January 11, 1941, while on a voyage from Hamburg, Germany, to Gothenburg, Sweden, the Bertha met a sudden and violent end. She struck a naval mine laid in the waters between Saltholm Flats and Middelgrund, sinking to the seabed.

Resting at an accessible depth of just 13 meters, the Bertha is a popular site for divers exploring the waters around Bornholm. Its shallow depth allows for long bottom times and excellent light penetration on clear days, making it suitable for both novice and experienced wreck divers. As a designated 'Dangerous Wreck', the structure is broken and scattered, but this creates a fascinating underwater landscape to explore. The twisted metal and remaining sections of the hull have become an artificial reef, providing shelter for the diverse marine life of the Baltic.

Marine Protected Area: Q

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 BERTHA

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 BERTHA

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