ANN HELEN CLAUSEN - North Sea Coast

The Ann Helen Clausen isn't your average North Sea wreck. We love this site for its story, especially knowing she was lost to a mine just weeks before the end of WWII. You're diving history here, a real piece of wartime drama frozen in time. At only six metres, it’s a shallow dive, perfect for extended bottom times and really soaking in the atmosphere. The wreck is pretty broken up, but that’s part of its charm. You’ll find boilers, twisted metal plates, and machinery strewn across the seabed, all heavily encrusted with mussels and anemones. We’ve seen some surprisingly large cod tucked into the deeper crevices of the wreck, and flatfish often bury themselves in the sand nearby. The visibility can be variable, as you’d expect from the North Sea, but on a good day, the light filters through the green water beautifully, illuminating the wreck in an almost eerie way. It's a fantastic spot for photographers looking for something a bit different, or anyone who enjoys exploring a wreck without the pressure of depth. Definitely go at slack tide to avoid fighting any current.

Location
North Sea Coast, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
55.131668, 10.056666
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
6m

Wreck History - ANN HELEN CLAUSEN

Year Sunk
1945
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
673 GRT

The S/S Ann Helen Clausen was a Danish steamship built in 1921, serving the coastal trade routes of the North Sea. For over two decades, she was an unremarkable but reliable vessel, transporting goods between Danish ports during a tumultuous period in European history.

Her final voyage took place in the closing weeks of World War II. On April 21, 1945, while en route from Esbjerg to Copenhagen with a cargo of coke, she entered a stretch of the North Sea still heavily seeded with naval mines. The ship struck a mine, and the resulting explosion sank her almost instantly, tragically taking all 15 crew members with her.

Today, the Ann Helen Clausen lies in just 6 meters of water, making her an accessible but somber dive. The shallow depth means the wreck is often subject to strong currents and surge, and has been heavily broken up over the decades. Divers can explore the scattered remains of the steamship, including her boilers and sections of the hull, now encrusted with marine life. Its classification as a 'dangerous wreck' is due to its shallow position and potential hazard to navigation, demanding respect and caution from all who visit.

Marine Protected Area: Maden on Helnæs and the sea west of

Best Time to Dive in North Sea Coast

The warmest water temperatures in North Sea Coast occur in January, averaging 4.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 4.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 4.6°C (air: 3.3°C)
  • February: 4.6°C (air: 3.6°C)
  • March: 4.6°C (air: 4.1°C)
  • April: 4.6°C (air: 6.7°C)
  • May: 4.6°C (air: 11.2°C)
  • June: 4.6°C (air: 15.4°C)
  • July: 4.6°C (air: 16.2°C)
  • August: 4.6°C (air: 16.7°C)
  • September: 4.6°C (air: 14.7°C)
  • October: 4.6°C (air: 10.8°C)
  • November: 4.6°C (air: 6.9°C)
  • December: 4.6°C (air: 3.3°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in North Sea Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to ANN HELEN CLAUSEN

Marine Life in North Sea Coast

Home to 105 recorded species including 55 reef fish, 9 crabs & lobsters, 8 other, 7 clams & mussels, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ANN HELEN CLAUSEN

Based on average water temperature of 4.6°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 5°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