Diving the Sellin Pier Piles

Site Overview

Sellin Pier Piles is a training and reef dive site in Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, reached from the base town of Sellin. The Sellin pier piles are a classic shallow macro dive, where the wooden supports are encrusted with mussels, anemones and nudibranchs and small fish shelter in every crevice. It is a perfect introduction to Baltic diving and a macro photographer’s delight. The site reaches a maximum depth of 10 m with an average profile around 6 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 Baltic Sea environment: visibility generally runs from 3 to 12 metres, the current is weak, and the water temperature ranges between 6 and 19 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on European Plaice, Common Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs (Flabellina spp.), Spider Crab, Moon Jellyfish, Eelgrass, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of artificial, pier topography and wood and sand substrate gives Sellin Pier Piles its distinctive character within the Baltic Sea – Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region. Sellin Pier Piles 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.