The Stockholm Archipelago is the second-largest of all archipelagos in the Baltic Sea; in addition, it is Sweden’s largest archipelago. Extending eastward from Stockholm for a distance of 60 kilometers, this magnificent geologic feature consists of approximately 30,000 islands and smaller islets. Here, you’ll find incredible rock formations, plentiful marine life, and some truly fascinating shipwrecks. Ready for something different? Let’s see what lies just beneath the surface.
The Stockholm Archipelago: Marvelous Geologic Formations and Fascinating Marine Life
Sweden is a nation that only recently assumed its shape; in fact, its landscape is still in the process of being reshaped as the result of post-glacial rebound. The Stockholm Archipelago is still in its infancy when considered from a geologic perspective; it was only in the Viking age that the islands began to take on the shapes we see today. The islands are still in the process of rising from the sea, with scientists measuring land mass rise at a rate of about three millimeters per year.
For a quick “getting acquainted” tour that introduces you to the geology and marine life of the Stockholm Archipelago, consider visiting Bjorno Nature Reserve. Here, a snorkeling and scuba trail has been set up with buoys marking points of interest, and with several underwater plaques that provide further information. The plaques are in Swedish, so brush up on your language skills to understand them.
Wreck Diving Around the Stockholm Archipelago
Wreck diving is extremely popular throughout the Stockholm Archipelago; as there are few channels suitable for deep draft ships and as shipping traffic has always been prolific in this area, many wrecks have occurred over the past several centuries. In many cases, new wrecks are discovered by divers, then Sweden’s underwater archaeologists work to identify them, often using technology to identify the wood used to build the ships, and even to determine where the ships were most likely built. A few examples of the wrecks you’ll find throughout the Stockholm Archipelago:
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Riksnyckeln – This Swedish battleship was lost in 1628. She lies at depths between 8 and 15 meters and is fairly broken up.
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Riksapplet – An 84-gun battleship located just off Dalaro and lost in 1676, this wreck was intact until salvors used dynamite to blow it up in 1921, just so they could get to the ancient oak timbers. Despite the damage, this sturdy ship is still an impressive sight to see; many of her timbers are so tightly lodged in the sediment that the salvage team was not able to harvest them. The Riksapplet wreck sits at a depth of just 15 meters.
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The Jutholmen Wreck – This unidentified three-mast trading ship sits at a depth of 13 meters and is extremely well-preserved, even though it has been sitting on the bottom of the sea since 1700. The ship’s deck is gone but her 23-meter hull is in one piece. Numerous wooden barrels remain in the cargo hold.
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The Melanie – This Swedish steamer was built in 1883 and is 77 meters long. Lost in January of 1907 after hitting the rocks off Biskopson, she now lies at a depth of 35 meters. This ship has an iron hull and wooden decks and is in excellent condition.
There are a number of dive clubs and dive shops in and around Stockholm, so arranging for travel to any site in the Stockholm archipelago area is typically simple. For good visibility, try to visit during the cooler months of the year, either before plankton blooms, or after the blooms have subsided. The water here is cold, and drysuits are recommended all year. Despite these slight challenges, you’ll find that exploring the waters just off the coast of Sweden is a wonderfully rewarding experience – and it’s one you won’t soon forget!