Kosterhavet Marine Park - West Coast (Gothenburg)

Okay, let's talk Kosterhavet. Forget your tropical expectations; this is a different kind of beautiful. Sweden's only marine national park delivers something truly unique: genuine cold-water coral reefs, specifically the *Lophelia pertusa*. We love how unexpected that is. Dropping into 15-20 meters, you start to see these delicate, branching structures emerge from the gloom, looking like alien trees. The visibility here can be decent, especially in late summer, but it's never going to be 30 meters of gin clear. Instead, you get this evocative, slightly mysterious green-blue light filtering through the bladder wrack near shore, opening up to the deeper reefs. You'll spend most of your time between 15 and 30 meters, navigating around the coral, looking for the smaller life that calls it home. Keep an eye out for Forbes sea stars clinging to the branches and the odd sea mouse trundling along the sandy patches. We've also spotted plenty of Hooded Shrimp if you have a keen eye. This site is definitely for the intermediate diver who appreciates the subtle beauty of cold-water environments and wants to tick off a genuinely unique dive experience.

Location
West Coast (Gothenburg), Sweden, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
58.890000, 11.000000
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
5-30m
Difficulty
Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: 2000583 Kosteröarna

Best Time to Dive in West Coast (Gothenburg)

The warmest water temperatures in West Coast (Gothenburg) occur in January, averaging 1.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 1.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 1.9°C (air: 1.7°C)
  • February: 1.9°C (air: 1.9°C)
  • March: 1.9°C (air: 3.2°C)
  • April: 1.9°C (air: 6.3°C)
  • May: 1.9°C (air: 11.7°C)
  • June: 1.9°C (air: 16.3°C)
  • July: 1.9°C (air: 16.8°C)
  • August: 1.9°C (air: 16.8°C)
  • September: 1.9°C (air: 14.3°C)
  • October: 1.9°C (air: 10.0°C)
  • November: 1.9°C (air: 5.6°C)
  • December: 1.9°C (air: 1.3°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in West Coast (Gothenburg)

Nearest Dive Centres to Kosterhavet Marine Park

Marine Life in West Coast (Gothenburg)

Home to 134 recorded species including 70 reef fish, 10 other, 9 whales & dolphins, 8 seagrass & algae, 8 clams & mussels, 7 sharks & rays.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Kosterhavet Marine Park

Based on average water temperature of 1.9°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 2°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