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Scapa Flow - The Wrecks

(English)

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Company description Scapa Flow is a sheltered open lagoon, encircled by the Orkney islands. It contains some of the most interesting wrecks in the world. For years it was the main anchorage of the British Royal Navy, and has many relics left of British naval history. In June 1919, the interned German navy scuttled most of its High Seas Fleet to prevent them from falling into Allied hands. Despite subsequent salvage, 8 of them remain and provide excellent wrecks for interested sports divers.
Wreck diving has become a major activity in recent years. Several of the remaining WW1 battleships and other wrecks are available to divers, who may charter dive boats to take them to the wrecks approved for diving around. Although most wrecks were salvaged by the firm of Danks and Cox after the German High Seas Fleet was scuttled in 1919, seven large warships and four destroyers remain on the bottom of the sea bed.
In case you think that you have to don a wetsuit in order to see the wrecks - WRONG! Roving Eye Enterprises operate out of Houton and charter a boat equipped with a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). This amazing piece of machinery has a built-in video camera and can remotely navigate the waters independently of the boat in order to explore the wrecks - with the results relayed to all on a large television screen from the comfort of the sheltered cabin! A full commentary is provided, so you leave with a good impression of the extent and background of the wrecks. It should especially be noted that diving isn`t all about wrecks - Orkney`s beautiful clear waters are a haven for a remarkable array of sealife.
Location description: Scapa Flow Wrecks
Light Cruiser - Konigsberg II class
The Karlsruhe is the shallowest of the High Seas Fleet. She lies in 26 metres with a minimum depth of 12 metres. The boat is quite badly broken in places, but is nonetheless a rattling good dive. She lies on her starboard side with her stern section relatively intact with capstans and mooring bollards still attached to a sloping quarterdeck. Her mid section has been extensively salvaged, but this means that parts of her structure are the more easily seen. Towards her bows there are two 6 inch guns that straddle the sea bed having collapsed from the main deck housing. Her bows are intact and quite imposing. Anchor chains from the capstans lead out over the deck through hawse pipes set in the damaged deck. An anchor chain runs out along the sea bed. She has an excellent control tower.
This is an excellent dive not least because the salvage damage has made some parts of the cruiser more obvious than in the more extant ones. The stern is quite impressive.
Light Cruiser - Dresden II class
The Dresden lies in 35 metres with her nearest surface point at 18 metres. In some ways she resembles the Koln, but her stern is more intact and gives the diver a better appreciation of that area. She lists at a slighter angle than the Koln and part of her deck has rotted and dropped away to reveal some of the innards. The bridge is intact and the whole superstructure together with the mainmast makes for excellent diving. The bow anchor chains are present, but like the Koln, the gun platforms are empty. Towards the stern the officers` accommodation section is obvious with its windows and open doorways. Both stern guns still remain as does the stern anchor.
The winter storms of 1996/97 have affected this wreck. The deck has moved away from the hull, so opening it up and making some swim throughs easier.
Light Cruiser - Dresden II class
The Koeln is in good condition, and makes for an excellent dive. The boat is in 35 metres of water and lies on its starboard side with a very slight list. Because of the orientation of the wreck, the Koeln is quite light when the sun is out and it is easy to make out many of the structures on her. There are many ways of diving the Koeln. You can descend straight to the sea bed at 35 metres and then work your way up the vertical deck. Or else land midships on the port rail and either go to the bows or stern making sure to buoyant on mid deck level (about 25 - 30 meters). Or stand from one end and go straight to the other. The Koeln is large enough and interesting enough to make a few dives necessary before you get the picture.
When diving this wreck it is easy to imagine being on a fast and lean cruiser. Her remaining guns are well preserved and even unpromising items like lifeboat davits and the holes left by her absent funnels are all memorable and add to the unique atmosphere that this wreck creates.

Website: Preview http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/jralston/rk/scapa/ by Thumbshots.org http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/jralston/rk/scapa/
Extensive description and information on some of the wrecks to be found in Scapa Flow, Orkney.

Contact information:

Phone: (01856) 791300
Street Address:
Lyness, Hoy
Orkney
Scotland
United Kingdom
Spoken language(s): English
Open: from 10-00 till 16-00
Local time:  Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) London, Edinbourg, Lisboa
Note: No guarantee is made to the accuracy of these details.

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