TURISTEN - North Sea Coast

The Turisten wreck off Denmark’s North Sea coast is one of those sites that just gets under your skin. We love it because it’s so accessible, sitting at a maximum depth of 6 metres, yet it offers a proper wreck dive experience. You’re not just looking at a few bits of wood here; this is a merchant vessel, sunk in 1942 after hitting a mine, and she’s still remarkably intact given the shallow depth and exposure to the elements. Descending onto the Turisten, you immediately feel the history. The deck planks are draped in kelp and anemones, and we’ve often seen schools of cod darting in and out of the holds. Look closely in the crevices and you’ll spot velvet crabs scuttling about, or perhaps a curious lumpfish observing you from a shadowed corner. Our favourite moments are exploring the bow section, where the anchor chain is still visible, encrusted with barnacles. It’s a dive that suits anyone comfortable in cooler waters and with an interest in maritime history; you get a real sense of what it would have been like to sail this ship. Visibility here can vary, but on a good day, with the sun breaking through the surface, the light filtering onto the wreck is just mesmerising. We’d suggest timing your dive for a slack tide to make exploring the exposed wreck even easier.

Location: North Sea Coast, Denmark, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 55.350000, 9.722500
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 6m

Marine Protected Area: Lillebælt

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 TURISTEN

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 TURISTEN

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