German Minesweeper R196
Dive site
The R196 is a German Kriegsmarine R-Boot minesweeper sunk in 1944 during WWII naval operations off the Romanian coast, resting at 24 metres on a sandy bottom approximately 7 km south-east of Constanța. The vessel is roughly 35 metres long and lies heeled to one side with the hull fairly intact, decks partially collapsed. Portholes and the engine room are accessible to divers comfortable with wreck penetration. The cold Black Sea water has slowed corrosion significantly compared to wrecks in warmer seas, and structural details remain visible. Sprat and Black Sea horse mackerel shoal around the superstructure while gobies occupy every sheltered recess.
Conditions
Depth
18 to 28 m
Open water and up
Current
Variable
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 8 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 23°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| Vis (m) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
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