Cold Water · Denmark
South Funen Archipelago
Denmark's last train ferry, scuttled as an overgrown artificial reef
The South Funen Archipelago, off Svendborg in Denmark, is wreck country: the Ærøsund, Denmark's last train ferry, was scuttled here in 2014 as an artificial reef, and older wrecks include the M36 and the Augustenborg. Svendborg Sound and the Thurø Dam are shore dives. Most dives run from 1 m in the sound to 28 m on the deeper wrecks, and what brings divers here is the overgrown Ærøsund.
About diving in South Funen Archipelago
Diving here splits between shore sites around Svendborg and trips to the wrecks. At Svendborg Sound divers walk in from the beach or take a giant stride off a hotel jetty, and the Thurø Dam is a shore dive too. The Ærøsund lies about 550 m off the coast near the village of Ballen on Funen; boats launch from the ramp at Rantzausminde Marina and tie up to the two yellow buoys on the wreck's bow and stern.
The Ærøsund went down in a controlled scuttling in October 2014 and is now completely covered with underwater vegetation; the bottom of the wreck is covered with mud, so divers need to take care there. Older wrecks in the area include the M36, the Augustenborg and the Skansen. Inshore, Svendborg Sound has strong currents and nutrient-rich water, with seaweed beds and, further out, extensive mussel beds.
Beginners have a gentle start on the Torpedo Boat, a very beginner-friendly wreck on a light, sandy seabed with rarely any current. The Ærøsund is not for beginners: it needs proper qualifications and experience, or an instructor alongside. Other wrecks nearby may be challenging to dive because of strong currents, and the M36 lies at 22 to 28 m. The archipelago is an international wildlife protection area, home to several rare and protected species.
Best time to dive South Funen Archipelago
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Dive trips run all year round, to the Ærøsund and to the nearby wrecks. December to March is the cold end of the year: the sea feels extremely cold in December and painfully cold from January to March, averaging about 2 °C (36 °F) in January, the coldest month. August is the warmest month, with the sea averaging about 18 °C (65 °F). No month is singled out as the best season for the wrecks.
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Dive types & marine life
Lesser, greater and snake pipefish are all common at the Thurø Dam. The strong currents and nutrient-rich water of Svendborg Sound make it a habitat for juvenile fish, and Dovns Klint adds flatfish and a wealth of macro life in the seaweed.
- Wreck
- Muck & macro
- Macro critters
Best dive sites in South Funen Archipelago
- 1
M/F Ærøsund
Denmark's last train ferry, scuttled off Svendborg in 2014 and now a full artificial reef.
- 2
M36 / The Capsized
A warship wreck lying so far on its starboard side that the keel nearly points upward.
- 3
The Torpedo Boat
An overgrown wreck at 10 m, with cod under the stern.
- 4
The Augustenborg
A German trawler lost after hitting a mine in the First World War.
- 5
Skansen
One of the easiest wrecks to find in the Langelands Belt.
- 6
The Thurø Dam
Shore dive where strongly territorial fish let divers come really close.
- 7
Dovns Klint
The southern tip of Langeland, a varied seabed with chalk deposits.
Site guides
Chalk deposits and flatfish under the cliffs of southern Langeland
An easy pebble-beach entry beneath the Keldsnor lighthouse
Wreck
Denmark's last train ferry, scuttled to grow into an artificial reef
Wreck
A warship rolled so far over that its keel nearly points up
Wreck
A dredger that went down while working on a lighthouse
Wreck
A German trawler lost to a mine in the First World War
How to get to South Funen Archipelago
Dive centres in the region run trips to the Ærøsund; one of them is in Odense, 42 minutes from Svendborg by train. Ferries run from Svendborg to Ærøskøbing on Ærø and to several small islands in the archipelago.
Photos from South Funen Archipelago
Flickr user: Jessica Spengler Brighton, United Kingdom http://www.wordridden.com/ · CC BY 2.0
Dive videos
Diving in the eelgrass in the shallow waters of the Archipelago · VisitLangeland on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is the Ærøsund wreck suitable for beginners?+
No. The wreck sits at about 19 m, and diving it needs proper qualifications and experience, or an instructor alongside. Diving under the car deck is not recommended, as fine, loose mud reduces visibility.
Can the South Funen Archipelago be dived from the shore?+
Yes. At Svendborg Sound divers enter from the beach or step off a jetty, and the Thurø Dam, with its pipefish, is a good shore dive. The Ærøsund, about 550 m offshore, needs a boat.
When is the water warmest?+
August, when the sea averages about 18 °C (65 °F). January is the coldest month at about 2 °C (36 °F), though dive trips still run all year.
What does Danish law require of divers here?+
The A-flag must be flown for any diving in open water, and every dive team should use a tethered surface buoy that clearly shows the divers' position on the surface.
Sources
- Dive Resort Fyn - Interactive Map — Dive Resort Fyn
- Dive Spots - South Fyn Archipelago — Diving Denmark
- Dive Spot M/F Ærøsund — Diving Denmark
- Return to Denmark's Ærøsund — SSI
- Svendborg average sea temperature — SeaTemperature.org
- Sydfynske Øhav — Wikivoyage
- Svendborg — Wikivoyage
- Safety — Diving Denmark
Photo credits
- Aerial view of several low green islands with field patterns and pale shallows in a deep blue sea, with thin clouds at the top by Flickr user: Jessica Spengler Brighton, United Kingdom http://www.wordridden.com/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Embed
Run a dive centre, club or blog? Embed this map of 6 dive sites near South Funen Archipelago on your own page.
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