A lumpsucker fish on the Haakon
A bonus on this dive was the resident lumpsucker fish , Cyclopterus lumpus , which I think was a male because of his bright red fins and face . Male lumpsuckers take on this red colour during spawning and it ’ s his job to guard the eggs .
The Frankenwald : This 122m-long German steamship was built in 1922 . She lost control and ran aground on 6 January 1940 near Brattholmen , Sognefjorden . All the crew were rescued by local fishermen . She lies upright with her bow to the south in 40m and the depth at the stern is around 35m . Her propeller was salvaged , but the rest of the wreck is mostly intact with both masts in place .
On our descent a spectacular display appeared in front of us , the shot being attached to one of these masts which was smothered in plumose anemones .
Much of the wreck was covered in colonies of peacock worms , Sabella pavonine and of sea squirts , likely Ciona intestinalis . But my favourite parts of the dive were dropping down into the wreck to see the gauges in the engine room and then floating just off the stern and looking back in through the wreck at the steering quadrant still in place .
Steering quadrant still in place on the Frankenwald
Dahlia anemone and urchin on Frankenwald ’ s railings
Plumose anemones on the Frankenwald
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