This dive site, Zoetersbout, is a well-known and easily accessible shore dive located within the Oosterschelde National Park in the Netherlands. Divers navigate along an overgrown dike wall, a man-made structure that has become a vibrant underwater habitat. While generally calm, a mild current can occasionally be felt near the head of the dike, requiring some awareness. There is no specific historical information provided for this particular spot beyond its location as part of the Oosterschelde infrastructure.
The site is teeming with diverse marine life, particularly known for its macro subjects. Permanent residents include eels, common lobsters, and galatheak lobsters. Depending on the season and time of day, divers can encounter harder fish, frostwabbing, delicate seahorses, various species of nudibranchs, as well as cuttlefish, sea bass, and snotolf. The overgrown dike wall provides ample hiding spots and feeding grounds among the weeds for these fascinating creatures.
Zoetersbout is best visited during the diving season, with optimal conditions often found during calmer weather to maximize visibility. It is particularly excellent for macro photography due to the abundance of small, interesting critters. Both scuba divers and freedivers will find the site suitable, given its shallow average depth and mostly mild currents. Divers should be prepared for typical North Sea water temperatures and bring their macro lenses to fully appreciate the rich biodiversity.
