Diving Kap Arkona

Site Overview

Kap Arkona is a wall and cave dive site in Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, reached from the base town of Sassnitz. Kap Arkona is the dramatic northern tip of Rügen, where chalk cliffs continue underwater as vertical walls and sea caves. Cod and pollack patrol the white chalk and the light reflections make for spectacular wide-angle photography. The site reaches a maximum depth of 30 m with an average profile around 20 m and a shallow start near 8 m, which places it firmly in the advanced category and means divers should hold at least an Advanced Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the Baltic Sea environment: visibility generally runs from 4 to 14 metres, the current is moderate, and the water temperature ranges between 6 and 18 degrees Celsius with moderate surge exposure. The marine community is centred on Atlantic Cod, Pollock, European Plaice, Common Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs (Flabellina spp.), Spider Crab, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of wall, cave topography and chalk and rock substrate gives Kap Arkona its distinctive character within the Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region. Kap Arkona 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 Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 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.