ALTRES
Protected Area
Stora Middelgrund och Röde bank
Why dive here
With 121+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales, orcas and seals & sea lions - ALTRES offers some of West Coast (Gothenburg)'s richest wreck diving. Water sits around 2°C.
The Altres wreck, just off Gothenburg, might not have the colourful reefs of the tropics, but it’s got a real story to tell. We love this site for its character. She sits upright at 34 metres, a trawler that sank in 1968 after a collision. You descend onto the deck, usually met by a few curious cod darting from the wheelhouse. The stern is our favourite part, with the propeller still intact and often shrouded in the glassy bloom of compass jellyfish during the summer months. Visibility here can swing dramatically, from a glorious 15 metres to a murky 3, so picking your day is key. We’d suggest a calm morning, ideally after a few days without strong winds. You can penetrate the wheelhouse and engine room if you’re comfortable with overhead environments, but even just exploring the deck offers plenty of atmosphere. It’s a proper wreck dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of a chill.
Typical ALTRES Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (34m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 2°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
ALTRES Wreck History
Year Sunk
1944
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
unknown
Tonnage
419 GRT
The wreck known as the Altress is the former German Vorpostenboot V-1605, a converted fishing trawler pressed into military service with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. These patrol boats were the workhorses of coastal defense, tasked with escorting convoys, hunting for submarines, and sweeping for mines. Stationed off the coast of occupied Norway and Denmark, the V-1605 Altress was a constant target for Allied forces seeking to disrupt German shipping lanes in the Skagerrak strait.
On September 21, 1944, the Altress met its end during an attack by de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers of the Royal Air Force. Struck by rockets and cannon fire, the vessel sank and now rests at a depth of 34 meters off the west coast of Sweden. The wreck is a favorite among local divers from Gothenburg, but its 'Dangerous' classification is a warning: its depth, potential for entanglement in fishing nets, and the challenging conditions of the North Sea require experienced divers. Those who make the descent are rewarded with the sight of a well-preserved WWII patrol boat, complete with its deck gun, offering a somber reminder of the conflict that once raged in these waters.
Reviews for ALTRES
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ALTRES
ALTRES Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ALTRES, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (58.28, 11.41) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
1.94°C
35°F
Air Temperature
16.84°C
62°F
Wind Speed
5.21 m/s
10.1 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1012.4 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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