BES
Protected Area
Lillebælt
Why dive here
With 95+ marine species recorded in the area - including seals & sea lions, sea turtles and jellyfish lake - BES offers some of North Sea Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 3-19°C, warmest July, August, September.
The BES, a steamship that went down on May 6, 1945, sits at a depth of 18 meters off Denmark’s North Sea coast. What we really like about the BES is its historical weight; you’re diving a piece of the final days of the war. Despite its ‘dangerous wreck’ classification, which mostly means it’s still very much a ship, not a pile of rubble, it’s a good, relatively intact dive. You can often make out the bow and stern sections, with the midships having collapsed over time, creating some interesting swim-throughs if conditions are calm. Expect to find cod and pollack sheltering in the darker parts of the holds, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large crabs scuttling across the deck plates. Visibility here can be a bit variable, so we always check the forecast for settled weather before heading out.
Typical BES 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.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for BES
BES Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for BES, 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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