ANN HELEN CLAUSEN
Protected Area
Maden on Helnæs and the sea west of
Why dive here
With 95+ marine species recorded in the area - including seals & sea lions, sea turtles and jellyfish lake - ANN HELEN CLAUSEN offers some of North Sea Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 3-19°C, warmest July, August, September.
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.
Typical ANN HELEN CLAUSEN Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 13°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
ANN HELEN CLAUSEN Wreck History
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to ANN HELEN CLAUSEN
Dive shops near ANN HELEN CLAUSEN
Rødme Dyk
Diving 2000 A/S
Broagerlands Dykkercenter
Nicus Nature
Reviews for ANN HELEN CLAUSEN
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ANN HELEN CLAUSEN
ANN HELEN CLAUSEN Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ANN HELEN CLAUSEN, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (55.31, 9.86) (1km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
13°C
56°F · Range: 10.7–16.8°C
Air Temperature
11°C
52°F
Wind Speed
7.69 m/s
14.9 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1010.5 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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