Wreck of Ostmark - Bornholm
Dropping onto the Vizcaya, you immediately feel the history. This isn't just another wreck; it's a survivor from the Spanish-American War, blasted and sunk in 1898. We love how the hull is fragmented, making for an intricate exploration. You can weave through the collapsed decks and peer into the cavernous holds, imagining the chaos of its final moments. Keep an eye out for the resident Goliath grouper, a behemoth that often lurks in the deeper sections, an impressive sentinel for the lost vessel. The Vizcaya sits in about 20 metres of water, perfect for divers who want ample bottom time without deep decompression worries. The shallower parts are draped in soft corals, their polyps swaying gently with the surge, creating a stark contrast to the riveted steel. Our favourite part is navigating the twisted metal beams, where schools of snapper dart in and out, their silver scales flashing in the shafts of sunlight. The visibility here is usually excellent, giving you clear views of the wreck's entire outline from above. It’s a site that suits divers with a keen interest in maritime history and those who appreciate a wreck that has truly become part of the reef.
- Location
- Bornholm, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 56.633335, 12.266666
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Store Middelgrund
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
- 422 - 20m (wreck)
- AAR - 11m (wreck)
- Abille - 5-15m (shore)
- ACAPULCO 5 - 3m (wreck)
- Achterdiek See (reef)
- ADA - 42m (wreck)
- Adlergrund (reef)
- AEGEUS - 55m (wreck)
- AINAN - 7m (wreck)
- ALBERT - 4m (wreck)
- Alexsi Tauchschule
- ALIDA (OR ELIDA) - 18m (wreck)
- ALLEN - 16m (wreck)
- Allinge
- Alter Kahn
Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of Ostmark
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 Wreck of Ostmark
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