Diving Jungfernstieg

Site Overview

Jungfernstieg is a training and reef dive site in North Sea – Heligoland & East Frisian Islands, Germany, reached from the base town of Heligoland. Jungfernstieg is the easy shore-entry dive on Heligoland, a gently sloping rocky bottom with crabs, flatfish and nudibranchs close to the harbour. It is the perfect first Heligoland dive or a relaxed second dive after the walls. The site reaches a maximum depth of 12 m with an average profile around 7 m and a shallow start near 1 m, which places it firmly in the beginner category and means divers should hold at least an Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the North Sea environment: visibility generally runs from 8 to 20 metres, the current is weak, and the water temperature ranges between 7 and 17 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on European Lobster, European Plaice, Common Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs (Flabellina spp.), Spider Crab, Moon Jellyfish, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of slope, artificial topography and rock and sand substrate gives Jungfernstieg its distinctive character within the North Sea – Heligoland & East Frisian Islands region. Jungfernstieg is a strong representative of why German diving is so highly regarded, blending the geology, history and biodiversity that define the country's underwater exploration. It pairs naturally with the other sites of the North Sea – Heligoland & East Frisian Islands region for a varied holiday, and with the right thermal protection and, where relevant, the correct specialist training, it offers a memorable dive for photographers, naturalists and wreck, reef or freshwater enthusiasts alike. As with every German dive, a drysuit and a careful respect for cold-water limits turn a good day into a great one.