HMS Defence - North Sea Coast
The HMS Defence isn't just another wreck; it's a monumental piece of naval history, a war grave from the Battle of Jutland. We consider it an absolute standout for its sheer scale and the palpable sense of history clinging to every rivet. Descending onto this Minotaur-class armoured cruiser, you'll find a massive hulk, broken but largely intact in places, offering cavernous swim-throughs into ammunition lockers and engine rooms. Look out for the massive guns, now encrusted with plumose anemones, and keep an eye peeled for the resident wolf fish that often peer out from shadowy corners. This site is definitely for experienced cold-water wreck divers comfortable with deep dives and potentially challenging North Sea conditions. We always suggest aiming for slack tide; otherwise, the currents can be quite powerful, making penetration a real challenge. You'll want multiple dives here to truly appreciate the wreck's impressive size and the details that emerge from the gloom.
- Location
- North Sea Coast, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 56.967200, 5.830560
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: G - Strict
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 HMS Defence
- 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 HMS Defence
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