Beaconsfield
Also known as: Beacon Fields, D/S Beaconsfield, SS Beaconsfield
Victorian cargo ship sunk in 1905 at Bjogna, Hustadvika. Full 82m hull swimmable bow to stern at 24-32m with intact upright propeller.
Last updated April 2026
The dive
Drop onto the twin steam boilers at midships and the wreck's scale hits immediately. Eighty-two metres of Victorian steel stretches away in both directions across the rocky reef at Bjogna. Swim to the bow first, as it sits deepest at around 32 metres. The bow section is deteriorating, steel plates peeling apart after 120 years of Atlantic currents. Continue past it and look back for a panoramic view of the disintegrating forecastle. Then reverse course, swimming the full length of the hull back past the boilers toward the stern. Here the wreck lies flat to starboard, and the four-blade propeller stands upright in the water. Three blades remain intact. The fourth, pointing downward, is broken in two.
What makes it special
Few recreational wreck dives come with a ship registry entry dating to 1877. The Beaconsfield was built at Willington Quay on the Tyne, yard number three of the Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Company. Her 2-cylinder steam engine drove a characteristic four-blade propeller at 11 knots, carrying coal between Britain and Norway. When she grounded at Bjogna on 7 April 1905 during snow squalls, all sixteen people aboard walked away. The salvage vessel Staerkodder came, a diver went down, and the verdict was clear: too damaged to save. She stayed. Eighty years later, Nils Aukan found her again. His sketch of the wreck layout still serves as the primary orientation reference for divers today. What sits on the seabed is a complete vessel, bow to stern, that fits inside a single recreational dive profile.
Know before you go
Bjogna is open water on one of Norway's most exposed coastlines. You need good weather and a boat to get there. Stromsholmen Sjosportsenter runs guided trips with a minimum of four divers, operating June through September. A drysuit is mandatory. Water temperature is around 15C at the surface in summer. Visibility was 10 metres with haze on a September dive, though conditions vary. Nitrox extends bottom time at these depths and is recommended. The steel hull interferes with compasses, so orient by the wreck structure itself: boilers at midships, bow east, stern west. Video footage of the wreck exists online and is worth reviewing before you descend.
Why Dive Beaconsfield
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Intact four-blade propeller
Stands upright at the stern, three blades intact after 120 years underwater
- Full hull in one dive
82.3m vessel swimmable bow to stern in a single 24-minute pass
- Victorian cargo ship history
Built 1877 at Tyne Iron Shipbuilding, sunk 1905 carrying coal to Trondheim
- Twin steam boilers
Midships boilers serve as descent reference point with GPS waypoint
Depth & Profile
Location
63.0416°N, 7.3551°E
Conditions & difficulty
Summary
Moderate wreck dive at recreational depth. Exposed open-water location requires good weather. Cold water and drysuit essential.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Cold and exposure: Water temperature around 15C even in summerDrysuit with adequate thermal undersuit
- Cold and exposure: Bjogna is in open water on one of Norway's most exposed coastlinesDive only in good weather with local operator who monitors conditions
- Orientation: Steel wreck causes compass deviationDo not rely on compass for navigation on the wreck
- Structure and sharp edges: Bow section is disintegrating after 120 yearsExternal observation only. Avoid contact with deteriorating bow structure.
Regulations
Protected under Norwegian kulturminneloven as a wreck older than 100 years. Do not remove artefacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep is the Beaconsfield wreck?▾
The wreck lies at 24-32 metres on a rocky reef at Bjogna. The bow is the deepest section at roughly 32m, with the stern shallower. A dive log from 2008 records 28.9m maximum depth during a complete bow-to-stern swim lasting 24 minutes of bottom time.
What is the history of the ship Beaconsfield?▾
D/S Beaconsfield was a British cargo steamship launched in 1877 at Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co, Willington Quay. She measured 82.3m with a 2-cylinder steam engine producing 160 nominal horsepower. On 7 April 1905, she ran aground at Bjogna in Hustadvika during strong wind and snow squalls while carrying coal to Trondheim. All 16 people aboard survived. The wreck was rediscovered in the 1980s by diver Nils Aukan.
Can you penetrate the Beaconsfield wreck?▾
No published information describes penetration possibilities. The wreck is described as quite deteriorated, with the bow section disintegrating. The documented dive approach is external only: swim the full 82m hull from bow to stern along the outside.
Do I need a drysuit to dive wrecks in Norway?▾
Yes. Norwegian Atlantic waters are around 15C at the surface even in summer, cooler at depth. A drysuit with thermal undergarments is essential. Nitrox is also recommended at the Beaconsfield's 24-32m depth range for extended bottom time.
How do I arrange a dive on the Beaconsfield?▾
Stromsholmen Sjosportsenter in Hustadvika operates guided boat trips to the wreck during summer (June-September). A minimum of four divers is required per trip. The centre offers pick-up service from Kristiansund or Molde. Good weather is required to reach Bjogna, an exposed open-water location.
What can you see on the Beaconsfield wreck?▾
The highlights are the intact four-blade propeller standing upright at the stern (one blade broken, three intact) and the twin steam boilers at midships. The 82m hull shows 120 years of Atlantic marine colonisation. Large wrasses have been observed on the structure. The view looking back at the disintegrating bow from beyond it is described as striking.
Is the Beaconsfield wreck legally protected?▾
Norwegian cultural heritage law (kulturminneloven) protects shipwrecks older than 100 years. The Beaconsfield, sunk in 1905, falls under this protection. Divers must not remove any artefacts. No special diving permit is required to visit the site.
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