PETIT FOLMAR - North Sea Coast

The Petit Folmar wreck offers a moody, atmospheric dive, very different from the sun-drenched reefs most divers chase. This old carrier, sunk in a ferocious storm in 1999, lies upright at 21 metres. We find it incredibly poignant, especially knowing the story of the lost crew. Descending, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale. At over 50 metres long, there's plenty to explore. The wheelhouse is a tangled mess, but the cargo holds are surprisingly open, inviting cautious penetration if you’re experienced and properly equipped. Visibility here can be hit or miss, typical for the North Sea. But on a good day, with a bit of ambient light filtering down, you get these incredible silhouettes of the wreck structure against the greenish water. What we really love is how the marine life has claimed it. It’s not about corals here. Think huge plumose anemones waving like ghostly flags, nudibranchs slowly crawling over the rusting metal, and schools of cod or pollack schooling in the darker recesses. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits, revealing more of its secrets each time. We’d suggest diving this one on a slack tide to avoid any strong currents, which can make the penetration sections a bit hairy. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and a more rugged, less manicured underwater experience.

Location: North Sea Coast, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 55.199963, 7.200476
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 21m

Marine Protected Area: Sydlige Nordsø

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to PETIT FOLMAR

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 PETIT FOLMAR

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