Dive Sites Database

Kronprinz Wilhelm

The Kronprinz lies upturned in about 36-38m of water with her starboard decksembedded in silt and her port side open, surface to wreck can be as little as 12-14m depending on tide.
The 5.9-inch casemate guns are visible on the port side, as is the mast and spotting top lying flat on the seabed. Further aft along the wreck, beneath the overhanging decks is the 12 inch gun turret, moving along the side to the front you reach the port barrel, 35 feet from the turret is the muzzle, the end of the barrel jammed into the teak deck. Looking at the muzzle, on the divers left is the starboard armament (the only visible survivors, fired at the battle of Jutland!). At the stern, the rudders still stand intact, quite a sight!!

S.M.S. Konig

Today the ship lies almost completely upside down with her bows pointing approximately south east, gaps can still be found between her starboard decks and the seabed, but asthe years pass the massive weight of her hull forces her superstructure deeper into the clay seabed. She lies in 35-38m of water, surface to hull 20-24m depending on tide, and is now the most damaged of the German wrecks lying in the Flow. Salvage by Nundy Metals has left her hull plates torn open and her insides blasted and torn out, armour has been removed as were hull plates, some parts of the ship are removed as far as the inner bulkhead, leaving ribs exposed. Diving this great ship can be somewhat confusing, much of her is blasted to a unrecognisable state and the sheer size means it is impossible to get 'the full picture' in just one or two dives!

S.M.S. Markgraf

Today her superstructure is sunk deep into the seabed, with her starboard side uppermost and open, however her weight continues to force her over. Surface to hull is around 24m and she lies in about 43-45m depending on the tide, she is without a doubt the most impressive of the battleships, again due to the sheer size of the ship it is impossible to see everything in a dozen dives or more, let alone one! The mast and spotting top lie out on the sea bed, long stripped of all instruments, under the over hanging deck , midships, the 12-inch gun turret can be found, half buried in the silt, the gun buried out of sight. Moving forward the gap between deck and seabed narrows until your left with a line of portholes, many open, form a line along the seabed, at the bow the you pass the anchor chain hawse, moving up, the forward torpedo tube, extensively salvaged. At the stern section the twin rudders still stand, the quarterdeck lies flat on the seabed, the curve of the stern is lined with portholes, salvage work has left a huge hole in the port side. A brilliant dive!

S.M.S. Dresden

The wreck lies on her port side and is fairly intact. The most interesting parts of this wreck are the bridge, bow section and fairly intact stern. Shot lines are usually placed at the starboard forward wing gun and the bow. The bridge section and shelter deck are very impressive, the mast and armoured lookout runs out along the sea bed, steel rigging ropes drape across bent hand rails, the armoured bridge with narrow viewing slots lies below, with glass intact! Moving towards the bow you will notice the precarious way in which the deck now overhangs, its only a matter of time before it collapses, up to the bow her sleek lines still look impressive. Anchor chain drapes out from the starboard hawse and ends at a large anchor some 50m ahead, finning back along the starboard top edge of the wreck the gap between hull and deck 'yawns' open, the inner workings of the capstan reveals chain and the shot line to the surface, for divers with enough air a short swim aft soon brings you back to the forward wing gun and second shot line.

S.M.S. Brummer

The Brummer lies on her starboard side in a depth of around 36m, surface to hull is in the region of 20m, it is arguably the most impressive of the Light Cruisers. From the bow, finning aft the 5.9 inch gun looms up at you, passing along the barrel and over the protective shield, you reach the conning tower. The armoured command centre, with horizontal viewing slits. On top sits the gun control range finder. Beyond this lies the bridge and signal deck. The mid section is blasted out but the stern is intact, the officers accommodation and the 5.9inch guns are worthy of a mention.

S.M.S. Karlruhe

The Karlsruhe lies on her starboard side in about 24-27m of water, this is the most broken of the light cruisers but is no less impressive a dive. From the shot line which is usually situated aft of the bridge, swim forward keeping the deck on your left, the armoured command bridge looms into view and is easily explored with a torch through the open doorway and windows , access is restricted, very little remains inside. Next comes a pair of 5.9-inch guns, the starboard gun lies on the seabed, the port gun above it on a now sliding deck, moving forward, mooring bollards vanish into the sea bed along with anchor chain disappearing through the remains of the deck hawse pipes. Only the frame of the bow, where the flag staff once stood now remains, looking back the decks are clearly sliding away from the hull. Swimming along the hull, various plates have been removed, up over the port side you pass rows of port holes as you fin aft back to the shotline. Moving towards the stern of the vessel, salvage work appears to have caused the hull to twist over on itself, as you near the stern the area becomes intact again , a 5.9-inch gun lies under twisted plates, its barrel protruding. Beneath the quarter deck is the officers accommodation. You pass the 2nd gun , then round the stern to the rudder, the stern anchor lies on the seabed, as you fin forward back to the shot you spot familiar items in the debris, life boat davits, boiler fire gratings, wire, pipes and fuse boxes.

S.M.S. Koln

The Koln lies in 34-36m on her starboard side, surface to hull is around 20m, she is in very good condition with little salvage damage, she probably shares the top spot with the Brummer as one of the best wrecks of the 'Fleet' to dive. The shot on the Koln is usually just forward of the aftermost gun, portholes and a doorway lead into what was once the officers accommodation, further aft the second gun is located before finning around the stern to the rudder. Moving forward past the two guns again, the midship section is heavily salvaged, a large section reduced to rubble, following the centre line the hull becomes intact again, your first sight is the 3.4- inch high elevation gun mounted before the main mast, the barrels horizontal point forward. Just forward of this gun the second shot line is usually tied to one of the life boat davits,once noted the diver proceeds to the command bridge and armoured conning tower, minus the sighting periscope. The guns from the foredeck are missing, a large hole allows access to what was once the crews quarters.