Bjarkesgrund - North Sea Coast
Startle Reefs, for us, is a masterclass in subtlety. You won't find the massive pelagics here that some of the outer walls boast. Instead, we love it for its intricate coral formations. Think delicate fluorescence grass coral glowing under your torch, interspersed with towering staghorn and robust hump corals. It’s a site for slowing down, for getting up close with the smaller residents. Look for the black sea cucumbers inching along the sandy patches and the flashes of pinkfish darting between the branches. We’d suggest a late morning dive, after the sun has warmed the water but before any afternoon chop picks up. It’s not a deep site, making it perfect for longer bottom times and really soaking it all in. Divers who appreciate macro life and aren't chasing big fish thrills will find themselves completely at home here.
- Location
- North Sea Coast, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 56.097220, 10.770556
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Kobberhage kystarealer
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
- 101 (POSSIBLY) - 20m (wreck)
- Aalborg Sportsdykkerklub
- AAROSUND - 10m (wreck)
- ACTIV - 14m (wreck)
- ADAMAR - 24m (wreck)
- AGNES - 0m (wreck)
- AGNETE - 5m (wreck)
- AGNETHE - 12m (wreck)
- Albertus (reef)
- ALBIS - 2m (wreck)
- ALEX - 15m (wreck)
- Alholm Rev (reef)
- ALLIANCE - 10m (wreck)
- ALLIANCE H 156 - 22m (wreck)
- ALMA - 20m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Bjarkesgrund
- Aquatic Marine
- Blivdykker.dk - ["PADI"]
- Broagerlands Dykkercenter
- Carlsens Dykkercenter A/S - SSI
- Dieter's Tauchshop
- Diving 2000 A/S - ["PADI"]
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
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- Ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) - Clams & Mussels
- Fluke (Platichthys flesus) - Reef Fish
- Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
- sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
- Common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) - Clams & Mussels
- bull rout (Myoxocephalus scorpius) - Reef Fish
- Sea potato (Echinocardium cordatum) - Sea Urchins
- Sand mason (Lanice conchilega) - Worms
- eel (Anguilla anguilla) - Reef Fish
- Edible periwinkle (Littorina littorea) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
- long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- New Zealand Mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Bjarkesgrund
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