BLENDA - North Sea Coast

The Blenda is pure North Sea wreck diving. This isn't a site for coral fanatics, but if you love history, the sheer atmosphere of a metal hulk on the seabed, then you’ll appreciate it. Sunk by a mine in 1920, the Blenda is a dangerous wreck, but that just means it’s well broken up. Don’t expect a perfect silhouette. Instead, you get a sprawling, jumbled playground of twisted steel beams, plates, and machinery parts, all lying in just 5 metres of water. We love a shallow wreck; it means more bottom time, more chances to really pick over the details. We’ve spent hours here, tracing the ghostly outline of what was once a 70-metre steamship. It’s the small things that get you – a boiler, still recognisable, or the faint curve of a bow section. Crabs scuttle in the shadows, and schools of small fish weave through the rusty skeleton. Visibility can swing, but on a good day, when the light penetrates through the green North Sea, it’s genuinely evocative. Our favourite time to dive it is on a slack tide, just after high water, when the current drops and you can really take your time. This is a site for divers who appreciate the story behind the dive, not just the pretty pictures.

Location
North Sea Coast, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
56.629955, 10.657845
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Wreck History - BLENDA

Year Sunk
1920
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
mined
Tonnage
800 tons

Launched in 1898, the HMS Blenda was an Örnen-class torpedo cruiser in the Swedish Navy. These fast, lightly-armoured vessels were designed for reconnaissance and torpedo attacks. Alongside her sister ships, the Blenda played a crucial role in patrolling Swedish waters during the First World War, safeguarding the nation's neutrality in a conflict that engulfed much of Europe. After the war, she continued her service, a veteran of a tense but ultimately peaceful period in her country's history.

The Blenda's end came not in the heat of battle, but from its lingering aftermath. On November 21, 1920, while on a routine voyage, she struck a stray mine left over from the Great War. The explosion was catastrophic, sending the warship to the bottom of the North Sea. Today, she rests in just 5 meters of water, making her an exceptionally shallow and accessible wreck. However, her designation as a 'Dangerous Wreck' is a stark reminder of the twisted metal and sharp edges that litter the site. Divers can explore the scattered remains of this historic vessel in excellent light, a dive that is both a simple shallow excursion and a poignant visit to a victim of a long-concluded war.

Marine Protected Area: Ålborg Bugt, østlige del

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 BLENDA

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 BLENDA

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