Klaverbank III

Klaverbank III is the third designated dive area within the Cleaver Bank complex in the Dutch North Sea, offering advanced divers yet another perspective on this exceptional natural reef system. Positioned close to Klaverbank II, this section provides access to additional boulder field formations that contribute to the bank's status as the most biologically diverse natural seabed habitat in Dutch waters. The rocky terrain at Klaverbank III features its own arrangement of glacial boulders and gravel deposits, creating unique microhabitat configurations that support specific community compositions. The variation between the three Klaverbank dive areas reflects the natural heterogeneity of the bank's geological structure, where differences in boulder size, spacing, and depth produce measurably different ecological communities within a relatively compact area. The marine life encountered at Klaverbank III shares the exceptional quality of the broader Cleaver Bank ecosystem. Hard-substrate specialists that are rare or absent elsewhere in Dutch waters are found here, including cold-water coral species, sponge communities, and the diverse invertebrate fauna that depends on rocky habitat. The boulder fields create three-dimensional habitat where marine organisms occupy every available surface and space, from the exposed tops of boulders to the dark crevices between them. Fish communities at this section of the bank continue the pattern of enhanced abundance and diversity associated with the Cleaver Bank's rocky habitat. The structural complexity provides hunting opportunities for predatory species and shelter for smaller fish and juveniles, creating the complete food web that characterizes healthy marine ecosystems. The productivity of the surrounding North Sea waters fuels this ecosystem with abundant nutrients, supporting biomass levels that can be impressive. Diving at Klaverbank III requires the same advanced qualifications and preparation as the other bank dive sites. The offshore location, depth, current conditions, and cold water temperatures create demanding diving that should only be attempted by experienced North Sea divers with appropriate equipment and support. The environmental sensitivity of the habitat adds an additional responsibility to dive carefully and avoid damage to the fragile benthic communities. Klaverbank III completes the trio of dive areas that together provide comprehensive access to the Cleaver Bank's extraordinary underwater world, offering Dutch divers the rare opportunity to experience natural rocky reef diving in the North Sea.