Diving the Rostock Wrecks

Site Overview

Rostock Wrecks is a wreck and reef dive site in Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, reached from the base town of Rostock. The waters off Rostock hold a scatter of wrecks from the city’s long shipbuilding and wartime history, now artificial reefs for cod and pollack. It is a convenient wreck dive close to a major city and its hyperbaric chamber. The site reaches a maximum depth of 20 m with an average profile around 13 m and a shallow start near 5 m, which places it firmly in the intermediate 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 13 metres, the current is moderate, and the water temperature ranges between 6 and 18 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on Atlantic Cod, Pollock, Conger Eel, Common Cuttlefish, Small-spotted Catshark, Spider Crab, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of wreck, reef topography and sand and steel substrate gives Rostock Wrecks its distinctive character within the Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region. Rostock Wrecks 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.