The Thurø Dam

About The Thurø Dam

The bridge between Thurø and Funen is called, rather inappropriately, the Thurø Dam as it marks the dividing line between the Skårupøre Sound and the Svendborg Sound.

Before reaching the small bridge stop at the parking place on your left. It is here you will enter the water. The dive itself starts by following the stone causeway out towards the south-west and then diving under the bridge. You then turn right and head back towards the north-west. In this way the dive will end in the shallow water on the other side of the road to where you parked.

You will be in no doubt about the fact that these waters experience strong currents when you swim under the drudge at a depth of 4 -6 m. Here the sandy bottom becomes a paradise for all the species that thrive in strong currents. Large rocks are beautifully overgrown with yellow and orange breadcrumb sponges, sugar kelp, oarweed and sea anemones. It is a really beautifully, very varied, underwater landscape.

This really is a great shore dive. In places there are areas of gravel and hard sand, as well as mussel beds. In the summer goldsinny wrasse swim around, in and out of everything, keeping themselves busy. Divers can approach these fish really closely as they are strongly territorial. Members of the pipefish family can also be seen here - especially during the summer. These beautiful creatures can be seen everywhere during a dive. Three species: lesser-, greater- and snake pipefish are all found here.

If you dive here in the summer you will be sharing the water with fishermen and sailors, so clearly mark your position with a large dive/‘A’ flag, so nobody is left in any doubt that here are divers in the water. Try to get as close to land as possible before coming to the surface.

How to get here: leave the motorway between Odense and Svendborg at exit 16 then head along route 163 “Ring Nord” towards Skårup. After a while you will come to a roundabout, here turn right onto Ørbækvej. Carry straight on until the road crosses over into Linkenkærsvej and then further on into Hestehavevej. Just before coming to the bridge to Thurø stop at the parking place on the left.