HELENE - Bornholm

Helene isn't your typical Bornholm dive. Forget the granite walls for a moment, this is a proper wreck, and a surprisingly good one at that. She’s an old German freighter, sunk by a mine in 1943, sitting upright at 18 metres. We love how intact she feels. You can swim through the cargo holds, poke around the bridge area, and even spot the propeller if you’re keen. The visibility here is often decent, especially for the Baltic, maybe 10-15 metres on a good day, which really lets you appreciate her scale. What we find particularly cool is the way the local marine life has taken over. There are schools of cod that hang out in the holds, conger eels peeking from dark corners, and anemones clinging to every surface. It feels like a living museum down there. Our top tip: go on a calm day. The surface can get choppy, and while the wreck is well-preserved, strong currents aren't unheard of. This dive suits anyone comfortable with wreck penetration, or those who just want to spend some time exploring a genuinely interesting piece of history.

Location
Bornholm, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.276110, 12.788333
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
18m

Marine Protected Area: Stevns Klint

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 HELENE

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 HELENE

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