South Funen Archipelago · Denmark · Wreck · Artificial reef
M/F Ærøsund
Denmark's last train ferry, scuttled to grow into an artificial reef
M/F Ærøsund was Denmark's last train ferry, sunk in a controlled scuttling off the coast of Svendborg on 5 October 2014. It stands upright on sandy ground at about 19 m with its funnel only 6 m below the surface, and the hull has grown into a full-fledged artificial reef in the South Funen Archipelago.
Also known as Ærøsund, Aerosund.
Where it is and how deep
55.0350° N, 10.4567° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The ferry sits upright on sandy ground, its ballast still in place, with the funnel at 6 m and the bottom of the wreck at about 19 m. Large openings lead into the hull, and the two yellow buoys are anchored to heavy iron chains to help divers find them. Commercial ships are not allowed close to the site, so entering the wreck is easy.
Vegetation began to grow on the hull in June 2015, and by August it was heavily overgrown; today the whole wreck is covered. Most often only a weak current runs over it. Mud has settled over the bottom of the wreck, so the lowest part of the dive calls for care.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Ærøsund
- Type
- Train ferry
- Built
- 1960
- Sunk
- 2014
- Cause
- Scuttled in a controlled sinking to form an artificial reef
- Lies
- Upright on sandy ground at about 19 m, 550 m off the coast near Ballen
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows South Funen Archipelago: Dive trips run all year; December to March is the cold end, and no month is singled out as the best for the wrecks.
Know before you go
- Mud now covers the bottom of the wreck; divers need to exercise caution there.
- Diving under the car deck is not recommended: fine, loose mud there reduces visibility.
Dive videos
DIVE SPOT M/F ÆRØSUND · Geopark Det Sydfynske Øhav on YouTube
Aeroesund / Ærøsund one year after · FOTOGRAFIT - Underwater Imaging and Light on YouTube
Sources
- M/F Ærøsund – dive spot, South Fyn Archipelago — Dyk Sydfyn
- Return to Denmark's Ærøsund — SSI
- Safety – South Fyn Archipelago — Dyk Sydfyn
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