The discovery was made in autumn 2025 by the Swedish Navy vessel HMS Belos during an exercise, and has now emerged as one of the most interesting marine archaeological finds in Sweden in recent years.

Dated to the late 16th century

Following initial analyses, researchers have established that the wreck was probably built in the late 16th century. The findings are based on dendrochronological analyses of wood samples, a method that facilitates high-precision dating of timber.

Archaeologists uncovered the remains of six historic shipwrecks in Varberg, Sweden, during investigations associated with the construction of a railway tunnel. These vessels, dating from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, were located along the town’s original shoreline and harbour area, providing new insights into centuries of maritime activity.

The Swedish dive equipment manufacturer Poseidon Diving Group has been acquired by Argo Defence Group, marking a significant new chapter for one of the diving industry’s most innovative and long-standing brands.

The Baltictech diving team found the shipwreck, estimated to be around 175 years old, about 58 meters (190 feet) deep off the Swedish coast. Among the relics, divers discovered over 100 bottles of champagne, astonishingly well-preserved in the cold, dark waters of the Baltic.

While the ship was found around 20 nautical miles (37km) south of the Swedish island of Öland, however, it’s not clear where it was heading to. The team believes the ship was en route to Russia, where the aristocracy prized champagne.  

In a pivotal legal decision, the Court of Appeal in Sweden has revised the sentences of four men convicted in 2022 for offences against Sweden's heritage laws. These individuals were found guilty of plundering several wrecks off the coast of Öland, challenging the preservation of national heritage.

From 2013 to 2020, the convicted men retrieved a multitude of artefacts from shipwrecks near Öland, using some to adorn their homes. Dive logbook entries suggest that their activities may have begun as early as 1987.

Sweden's military has now analyzed the video footage provided by Swedish wreckhunter group Ocean X Team and concluded that it is the wreck of a Russian submarine that sank after a collision with a Swedish vessel in 1916 during the First World War. Ocean X was the team who also found the "Baltic anomali"