“Diving has been on my mind for as long as I can remember. As a 5-year-old, I used to dress up with ski goggles as a mask and balloons taped to my back as tanks. At age 13, the dream finally came true, and on July 14, 1993, I did my first dive at Kullaberg. It was love at first sight.”

The dream developed into a life path. Claes has taught diving for six years in South Africa, Egypt, and the Philippines. After returning to Sweden and frequently diving the waters of Kullaberg, Claes came across a pair of wolffish that he revisited at least 10 times every year - until one day, they were gone.

After more than three decades of diving around Öresund, Claes has witnessed changes in flora and fauna, with some species disappearing and new ones appearing.

Standing on the shore after a dive, Claes is often asked the same question by people passing by: “What did you see?” He realised that while many are familiar with tropical waters, few know what lies beneath the surface close to home.

This became his mission: to show what’s down there - and how to protect it.

Already involved in nationwide projects on marine debris and ghost nets, he set out to expand this work into cross-border collaboration with Danish partners, focusing on his own backyard - Öresund.

In addition to being a diving instructor, Claes is a commercial diver and cave diving explorer. He is currently involved in cave diving exploration in Bosnia and is part of an upcoming expedition to the Britannic - the sister ship of the Titanic - resting in the Aegean Sea at around 120 metres depth.

Claes is co-founder of Öresund Patrol and our Diving Operations Manager. His technical knowledge keeps tanks filled, regulators serviced, and the boat running. He is not only central to our team, but also highly appreciated for his experience, calm mindset, and good sense of humour.