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ShipwreckSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

SM UB-13 — Belgian heritage wreck

Ostend and Zeebrugge, Belgian coast, Belgian North Sea offshore, Belgium

UB-13 is represented by a recognized Belgian underwater-heritage wreck rather than a surviving operational submarine.

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Featured Hero Photograph

Class reference: SM UB-14, a Type UB I sistership. This photograph does not depict SM UB-13.
Class reference: SM UB-14, a Type UB I sistership. This photograph does not depict SM UB-13. Proportional resize and WebP encoding.Unknown historic photographer / SMU Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library · CC0 1.0 — https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/Source ↗
WaterMarine
AccessBelgian heritage wreck — dive notification and current restrictions require confirmation
ExperienceAppropriate offshore wreck-diving qualifications and support; verify actual depth, access and current conditions locally.
Maximum depthA dependable seabed depth was not established in the reviewed primary record. Obtain current local measurements; charted clearance is not a dive depth.
Best seasonSeasonal details pending
VisibilityVisibility varies

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Regional location and nearby land

Location map

Regional view includes nearby land for orientation. No precise wreck position is inferred from historical loss reports.
Map areaOstend and Zeebrugge, Belgian coast
Open regional map ↗
Map zoom level 6 of 11

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Why divers know this place

Highlights

UB-13 is represented by a recognized Belgian underwater-heritage wreck rather than a surviving operational submarine.

Shipwreck-only module

The wreck

This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.

Vessel type
German World War I Type UB I submarine
Year built
1915 (launched)
Year sunk
1916
Cause of loss
Lost off the Belgian coast in the British net-and-mine barrage on 24 or 25 April 1916.
Present condition
Recognized submarine heritage wreck; structural condition and sediment exposure require local confirmation.
Penetration guidance
External historical context only; no authorization for penetration, recovery or disturbance.

Before you arrive

Access notes

Belgian authorities recognize the wreck as underwater cultural heritage. Dive notification and current site restrictions must be checked; a charted clearance has not been substituted for an unverified seabed depth. This record documents a wreck and its research history. It does not establish public charter availability or permission to visit. Confirm access with the responsible authorities and qualified local support; respect the site’s naval-heritage context.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Offshore weather and currents, depth and decompression exposure where applicable, low or changing visibility, entanglement, unstable or damaged metal and possible ordnance. Do not disturb remains or remove objects.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.