Waltraud Behrmann Wreck - Bornholm

Let's be clear upfront: the Waltraud Behrmann isn't some pristine, intact ghost ship. This is a working wreck, broken up but full of character, sitting off the coast of Bornholm. We love it for its raw, industrial beauty and the way the Baltic has claimed it. You’ll find yourself navigating through massive plates of rusted steel, twisted girders, and machinery – a real jumble that speaks to a violent end. Visibility here can be a bit moody, sometimes a decent 15 meters, other days a more intimate 5, but that just adds to the atmosphere. We’d suggest a dive light even on brighter days to really peer into the shadows and crevices. What it lacks in vibrant coral, it makes up for with surprising life. Crabs scuttle across the metal, schools of cod drift through the larger sections, and if you’re patient, you might spot a lazy flatfish camouflaged against the seabed. It’s a site that rewards exploration, offering new perspectives with each pass. This dive is perfect for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and the sheer force of nature over postcard-perfect visibility. Our favourite part is finding new swim-throughs as the sand shifts around the wreck over time.

Location: Bornholm, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 54.475334, 11.825500
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 15-30m

Marine Protected Area: Waters between Lolland and Falster including Rødsand, Guldborg sound, and Bøtø Nor

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Waltraud Behrmann Wreck

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

Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
Fluke (Platichthys flesus) - Reef Fish
whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
bull rout (Myoxocephalus scorpius) - Reef Fish
Ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) - Clams & Mussels
eel (Anguilla anguilla) - Reef Fish
four-bearded rockling (Enchelyopus cimbrius) - Reef Fish
New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) - Reef Fish
Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus) - Reef Fish
saithe (Pollachius virens) - Reef Fish
Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
Common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) - Clams & Mussels
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Waltraud Behrmann Wreck

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