Wreck diving on the Belgica in Norway is a great challenge. Not only is it quite a bit of travel, but the wreck is really cool. You can read all about that in this blog.
We decided to travel to the North Cape in Norway with our motorhome in the summer of 2024 and also do quite a few dives along the way. One of these dives was the wreck dive on the wreck the Belgica.
Norway is known for its spectacular dive sites, and this trip did not disappoint.
Under the dark water surface, you will be surprised by the amount of colour and if you like wreck diving, you will be spoilt for choice.
One of the absolute highlights of our diving trip in Norway was the dive to the wreck of the Belgica. Located four hours below Tromsø, a little above the Lofoten Islands, this historic shipwreck offers divers a unique opportunity to admire a piece of maritime history up close.
General information about the Belgica wreck in Norway
The Belgica was a wooden ship originally built in 1884 in Svelvik, Norway, and christened as Patria. It was a steamship and three-master measuring 36 metres long, 7.6 metres wide and 4.1 metres deep. It weighed 336 tonnes and had a wooden hull.
Initially, the ship was used for whaling and seal hunting until Adrien de Gerlache bought it in 1896 for the Belgian Antarctic Expedition. De Gerlache renamed the ship the Belgica and left Antwerp for Antarctica on 16 August 1897. The Belgica and her crew were the first to spend a winter in Antarctica, after the ship got stuck in the ice on 28 February 1898. Only 13 months later, the ship was able to free itself through a channel the crew had dug out. On 5 November 1899, the Belgica returned to Antwerp.
Later, the ship was bought by the Count of Orleans and used for several expeditions. After World War I, the Belgica served as a floating fish factory near the Lofoten Islands. In May 1940, the British used the ship as a floating munitions depot. On 19 May 1940, the ship was sunk in a fjord near Harstad during a German air raid.
Today, the wreck lies at the bottom of the fjord and the non-profit organisation Belgica Society supported scientific research for possible salvage, conservation and exhibition of the Belgica as an important maritime heritage.
Practical information about diving on the Belgica
Where is it located?
The Belgica is located in the fjord Hestvika2 near Harstad, northern Norway. If you enter these coordinates in google maps enter you will see the place where you can park - 68°47'38.7″N 16°35'45.2″E It is at the end of Stangnesveien, just before the military compound.
Park well in the corner, neatly off to the side. Despite it not being a busy street, we ran into some people.
You can see from the street the small pebble beach where you can dive off.
At about 5 or 6 metres you will find a line, it is slightly to the left as you swim from the little beach.
After that, it really is quite a long swim, but you won't get bored as there is plenty of life to see on the sandy bottom too.
How deep is the wreck?
The wreck of the Belgica lies at a depth of about 20 meter, with the deck at around 15 and the top of the wreck around 12 metres. On the way to the Belgica, you swim a short distance through a ‘’dip‘’ in the seabed, causing you to swim slightly upwards from 23 metres towards the wreck. That way, the ship really gives an impressive sight as it towers above you.
How is the visibility?
Visibility varies depending on the season and conditions. During our dive, we had 10 to 15 metres visibility, but with some luck it can certainly be better.
What is the water temperature?
The water temperature ranges from 4°C in winter until 13°C in summer. We wore our drysuits with good insulating suits (Fourth Element's Halo)
Can you fill scuba tanks there?
In Harstad we failed to fill up, fortunately we had full tanks and on our way south, Lofoten, we were able to fill up again at a diving club.
If anyone knows a good place in Harstad to fill the dive tanks, I would love to hear about it and add to this blog.
Are there any facilities?
No, there are no facilities, you can only park your car. There are no toilets or other facilities. Since the bushes nearby were very dirty at the time (...) I still make a small appeal: keep the surroundings clean so others can enjoy this beautiful place too!
Wreck diving on the Belgica in Norway
If you are in the area then this is highly recommended! The wreck is still very recognisable as the ship it once was with many details such as wooden planks and metal reinforcements that have stood the test of time thanks to the constant low water temperatures.
The history of the wreck is fascinating. With a warning, too:
Do not touch the contents of the Belgica's wreckage!
The Belgica's cargo when it sank consisted of munitions: blocks of explosives in spark-proof copper cans with screw-on lids. ’
My understanding is that exposives are not dangerous as long as they remain underwater, but once dry are extremely sensitive. In any case, it is not-done to touch a wreck or take things from a wreck, but this is good to know and stay safe.
The shipwreck is quite a swim from shore, though. Until you reach the Belgica, you swim across a sandy bottom with plenty of life to explore.
