Scapa Flow is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Stromness, Orkneys, Scotland, United Kingdom. This dive site has an average rating of 4.50 out of 5 from 2 scuba divers. The maximum depth is over 150ft/46m. The average visibility is over 150ft/46m. This dive site provides bathrooms and airfills.
Dive the WWI German High Seas Fleeted scuttled there in 1919
Travelling to Scapa and Orkney
This is the most popular and most practical way to get to Orkney, by ferry. The route is
Scrabster to Stromness. It is adviseable to book in advance.
Tel: 01856 851144
email: info@northlinkferries.co.uk
website:
www.norhtlinkferries.co.ukThere are a number of other less convenient ways to get this far north, including flying or take the train. Or even combine the two as the train journey from Scotland can be much cheaper than the second flight up. The best source of info is Orkney Tourist Board
website.
www.visitorkney.
Scapa Flow has been used as an anchorage since the days of the Vikings, and through two world wars. Situated on the north East coast of Scotland it is a large expanse of water surrounded by a ring of Islands known as the Orkney Isles. Scapa Flow is a natural harbour providing shelter to the worse of the weather, being blown out on a dive is rare, and Scapa Flow is with out doubt the finest wreck diving location in the UK. And here’s why
On the 21st June 1919 Admiral Von Reuter ordered the high seas German Fleet to scuttle. This consisted of 74 ships being sent to the depths of Scapa Flow, 10 battle ships 6 battle cruisers 8 light cruisers and 50 destroyers. Out of the 74 ships 52 went to the bottom and 22 were beached or saved by armed naval boarding parties. Salvage operations by Messrs Cox and Danks and later by Metal Industries ltd and Scapa Salvage raised 45 ships.
The German fleet wrecks are great diving no doubt of that but that’s not all what Scapa is about. We have scrap sites from previously salvaged ships, and block ships in shallow fast tidal waters. Wrecks like the Gobernador Bories a Chilean registered steamer sunk in Burra Sound in 1915 is the one for the photographer, this wreck is just teaming with life. The large Ballen and Cuckoo Wrasse really do expect to be fed with sea urchins from visiting divers, honest if you don’t feed them they’ll bite you. The average depth of this dive is around 15 meters, and the viz well, check it out.
There are seven ships from the fleet which are S.M.S Kronprinz, Koing, Markgraf, Dresden, Brummer, Karlsuhe, and Koln.
There is alot to dive and more than the German Fleet, from single cylinder air divers to deep mixed gas techie. Dive with the seals or a scenic drift around the Old Man of Hoy.
I used Scapa Scuba while I was there on holiday and had a great time, great dives, and met great folks from all over.
Guided dives are typically run for both individuals and small groups and are available to everyone.
Guided dives are particularly popular with individual divers on holiday in Orkney without a buddy as well as recently qualified divers who feel more comfortable diving with someone more experienced. Divers who are in Orkney for just a few days and want to make the most of their time here mostly choose to dive with a guide to heighten their enjoyment and what they see in Scapa Flow.
Dresden bow
Your guide will be an experienced Instructor or Divemaster who is familiar with both the history and layout of the wrecks and experienced in the diving conditions of the area.
They have dived the wrecks many times so will be able to show you all the best parts of every wreck you dive!
Scapa Scuba
Lifeboat House
Stromness, Orkney
KW16 3DA
Scotland, UK
01856-851218
+44-1856-851218
diving@scapascuba.co.uk