BIRTHE - Bornholm

We always make time for the Birthe when we're diving Bornholm. This fishing vessel is quite deep, hitting 50 metres, but the visibility here can be surprisingly good, making the descent a real journey into the blue. We love how intact she is, especially for a wreck in these northern waters. You can still see the wheelhouse almost whole, and the stern is a fantastic spot for finding conger eels poking out from the shadows. The Birthe is our pick for divers who appreciate a wreck with a story, not just a pile of twisted metal. Exploring the deck, you’ll often find schools of pollock circling the mast, and the cargo holds are now home to crabs scuttling across what used to be a bustling fishing boat. The cold water preserves a lot of the details that would be lost elsewhere, giving it a ghost-ship feel. We'd suggest saving this dive for a calm day; while the current isn't usually fierce, a smooth surface makes the long journey down and up much more enjoyable. It's a proper deep dive, so bring your experience and good buoyancy control.

Location
Bornholm, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.129400, 15.198900
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
50m

Wreck History - BIRTHE

Vessel Type
fishing vessel
Cause
unknown

In the deep, cold waters of the Baltic Sea off the Danish island of Bornholm lies the fishing vessel Birthe. At a depth of 50 meters, this site is strictly for experienced technical divers. The Baltic is renowned for its exceptional preservation of wooden and steel wrecks due to its cold, brackish, and low-oxygen environment, and the Birthe is no exception. Though its story is lost to time, the vessel sits as a silent testament to the island's fishing heritage. Divers making the descent are rewarded with a view of a largely intact trawler, often draped in the fishing nets that may have contributed to its demise. The dark, still water creates an atmospheric dive, where the beam of a torch reveals a wreck that feels frozen in time.

Marine Protected Area: M - Reg

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 BIRTHE

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 BIRTHE

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