A davit used to lower small boats on the SMS Dresden Wreck. A mine-laying light cruiser, the SMS Brummer lies at 115 feet (36 m). Invincible has an overall length of 25m which provides an extremely safe stable platform for scuba diving; she is a fully equipped liveaboard, with a divers lift, operating out of Stromness harbour and Lerwick. To recognize the ships historical significance, the SMS Dresden along with many other WWI wrecks at Scapa Flow have been protected as scheduled monuments. We will tailor the week to suit you whether that is diving as many of the sites as possible or focussing on just one battleship. She is overturned on her port side. Work started in May 1940 and was completed in September 1944. Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands: The German Imperial Navy’s High Seas Fleet in World War One was waiting in this bay at the end of the war. Artic Convoy escort ships were also based in Scapa Flow which provided vital supplies to the Soviet Union. ABOUT THE BOOK This completely rewritten and updated centenary edition of Dive Scapa Flow marks the 100th anniversary of “the greatest act of maritime suicide the world has ever seen” – the German High Seas Fleet scuttling. Scapa Flow is a large natural harbor in the Orkney islands. If you have beautiful weather, come at sunset time to get the perfect shot. In the Scottish Highlands, a remote, sheltered stretch of water in the Orkney Islands is home to Scapa Flow, one of Britain’s most historic settings. This threat unfortunately was realised when the battleship HMS Royal Oak was sunk at anchor after being torpedoed by a U-boat. The SS Clio is a fifth wreck in the area but requires a boat to dive. Almost in unison the entire German fleet began to sink. One hundred years on from the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet that left divers so many iconic wrecks off Orkney, keen Scapa diver MIKE WARD looks at the epic story behind the event, the best way to dive the Flow, and talks to Rod Macdonald, author of what many regard as the location’s definitive dive-guide. The best visibility can found during autumn when you can get 10m to 15m visibility. Two 5.9 inch gun mounts are visible on the forward deck however the guns have been salvaged. At the end of the war, the German High Seas Fleet was at Scapa Flow under the terms of the Armistice. The best time to travel is during the summer and the water reaches temperatures of up to 24°C. YouTube. In comparison, the stern section is very broken up and remains upright. In the Scottish Highlands, a remote, sheltered stretch of water around the Orkney Islands is home to Scapa Flow, with some of the best dive sites in Britain. The forward section of the F2 is relatively intact and lies on its side. At the end of the World War 1, SMS Dresden was one of the last two German ships to be interned at Scapa Flow. Scotland is a beautiful country to visit, rich with history and diversity. Significant British naval action started from Scapa Flow during WWII, including the hunt for the battleship Bismark in 1941 and aircraft carrier raids again its sister ship Tripitz. Scapa flow provided access to both the North Sea and Atlantic and had been used by the British Navy for training exercises before. During the spring months look out for swarms of comb jellyfish that eat algae blooms, which are caused by the warming waters. It was used heavily during World War 1 and World War 2, which resulted in dozens of ships being sunk or purposely scuttled in it’s waters. The SMS Dresden wreck is a good first dive due to the shallowness of the bow, with dive groups often returning later in the trip to dive the deeper stern. A large portion of the SMS Dresden is made up of boiler rooms, which are sealed and inaccessible, making penetration inside a large portion of the ship impossible. You therefore often end up under parts of the ship as you swim along it. Dresden is one of two Cöln-class light cruisers that lie on the bottom of Scapa Flow. Merchant ships in the Thames estuary was the target, along with targets in Flanders. With the hull lying at 39 feet (12 m) and the bow at 120 feet (38 m) on the seabed, this wreck is a good choice for both recreational and technical divers. These are typically converted fishing boats and which offer various lengths of trips from a few days to over a week. At the end of WWII, she was given to the British as a war reparation. Fearing that the Allied Powers would seize the ships, German Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttled them all. The Royal Navy raced to board the ships and managed to beach 22 ships, while the remaining 52 ships were sunk. It still lies on the bottom with many of the 833 souls who died when it sank. At its deepest, Scapa Flow is 60m (197ft), although the deepest of the German wrecks lies in 47m (154ft). Diving these wrecks is restricted and not prohibited to recreational and technical divers. Built in 1936 at Kiel, she was the second out of ten in her class. The badly damaged SMS Dresden arrived in Scapa Flow ... SMS Cöln. However in 1922, tenders were invited from the Admiralty for potential salvage operations. Each dive site gives you a comprehensive dive guide along with the history and are all accompanied with photos and videos to view. Let Emily know what you like and don’t like and she will do her best to help. The SMS Cöln also rests at the bottom of Scapa Flow. Day 4 – Scapa Flow & Hoy Island. This was mainly due to its range from Germany. We dived the SS Gartshore and SS Empire Seaman to the west of the barrier. Combined with the rich marine life found in the flow, this makes Scapa Flow one the best wreck diving destinations in the world. In 1967, a salvage company attempted to salvage parts of the wreck to be used as metal. Great visibility in the water. In winter time, such as the month of February, water temperatures might be of … The British navy was again based in Scapa Flow during WWII. She therefore arrived on 6th December 1918, leaking badly. Seeing the main armament of a dreadnought class battleship makes this one of the world’s best wreck dives. We will normally leave the pier between 8am and 9am and return around 4pm. Following the German defeat at the end of WWI, 74 German High Seas Fleet ships were interned in Gutter Sound at Scapa Flow. The badly damaged SMS Dresden arrived in Scapa Flow on December 6, 1918. 3D Printed Terra Cotta Tiles Create Artificial Reefs in the Red Sea, Scuba Diving Alphonse Island in the Seychelles. Unfortunately she sank in a storm in 1946 while stationed at Scapa Flow. The wrecks we managed to dive were amazing and we would definitely like to return to Scapa Flow one day to dive the rest of the German ships. Last year a former hurricane hit Orkney, but we still managed one battleship dive in … We overnight in Burray, where good food and nice bar make the evening slip by. Scapa Flow 100. 2019 will see Scapa celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the Scuttling of the German ‘High Seas Fleet’ famous for its encounters with … Best Dive Sites in Scapa Flow. Daily flights can be found from the above listed airports during the summer season. Shore entry makes accessing the wrecks easy and and the seabed gently slopes down to around 10m depth. Aberdeenshire and North East Scotland Dive Sites, 7 Underwater Photography Tips For Beginners, Scuba Diving vs Freediving – Pros and Cons. There are four wrecks in total that can be dived from shore; the SS Empire Seaman, SS Reginald, SS Martis and SS Gartshore. The information listed on this site is to be used as a reference and is only our opinion/suggestion. These ships are all single screw steel steamers sunk to block the channel. The wrecks are only 100m apart meaning that both can be done in a single dive. It was later found in the 1960s by Jacques-Yves Cousteau. If you want to explore the wrecks of the Baltic Sea, send us a message and we can arrange your travel! Between the months of April and October is when divers would find the best time for going to Scapa Flow and enjoy the best water temperature. They awaited their fate pending the outcome of the Treaty of Versailles. Used for centuries as a strategic trade route, these dark, chilly waters hide the remains of Germany’s World War I Naval fleet. In 80 feet of water (25 m), divers can also log longer bottom times. Scapa Flow – The Pilgrimage. She joined the II Scouting Group which consisted of five other ships. Highlights include the 12-inch guns on the deeper bow section. Croatia. The SMS Dresden was a 155m long light cruiser, one of only two ships of this kind in the German High Seas Fleet (Kriegsmarine). An inquisitive wrasse and seven armed starfish at Scapa Flow. Ship Type Escort Boat (F2) and Barge (YC21). Although smaller than the gigantic German cruisers and battleships, these block ships are shallower and are covered with sea life. Scapa Flow is a natural harbour and diving can take place in wind conditions that would see dive vessels tied up in much of the rest of the country. The wreck will be to your left as you move toward the bow and on your right as you move toward the stern. Best time to dive Scapa Flow Water Temperature 6° to 16°C Visibility 2m to 20m This is a more affordable way to travel for locals, however if you wish to take your car a journey can quickly add up to almost the cost of a flight. The wreck lies to the south east of Cava island. Best Dive Review. It has a shallow sandy bottom and its large size of 325km² makes it a perfect anchorage for British navies. SCAPA FLOW – SCOTLAND . The F2 was an escort boat from Word War 2. Ironically, the wooden barge the company used, YC21, sunk during a storm on 15th November 1968, still moored to the wreck. This translates to ‘bay of the long isthmus’ referring to a thin strip of land between Kirkwall and Scapa Bay. This guide to Scapa Flow includes wreck details, photographs and a section on aeroplane wrecks. The bow is intact and very photogenic for wide angle shots if the visibility allows. Later, in 1939, a German U-boat sank the HMS Royal Oak, one of the Royal Navy’s most renowned battleships, in the waters of Scapa Flow. A large portion of the British fleet left the flow for training exercises that morning, and von Reuter took his chance and gave to order. This resulted in the SMS Dresden’s crew to attempt the scuttle the ship. At 450 feet (146 m) long, the SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm is impressive due to its magnitude. Visibility can be around ten metres during the summer months, but this increases when the plankton dies back during the autumn. The visibility was around ten meters, and the large structure of the ship loomed into view as we descended. The site seems to have gained a reputation for being dark and murky. In total more than 1600 men lost their lives. The wrecks are protected to serve as relic and memorial to those who perished. It was therefore was the ideal location to relocate the fleet. A relatively shallow dive with a maximum depth of 16m, the F2 and YC21 wrecks are often done as a second or afternoon dive. Scuba diving Tubbataha is only possible by liveaboard. Dipping a toe Scotland offers some remarkable diving for those who come looking for it. The prominent history means that Scapa Flow offers some of the best wreck diving experiences in the world. Reaching the stern of the ship at 38m, the structure remains intact, with the rudder still visible. It is possible to dive all year round, however in the winter Orkney will be hit more often by storms, and the sea temperature is only 7ºC . Scapa Flow: Historic Wreck Site Scapa Flow ranks as one of the world’s top diving destinations, but many people who will never even get their feet wet are fascinated with what lies beneath its surface. Known For The number of WWI and WWII ships sunk there. His documentary depicting the adapting generation of whale hunters on the island of Pico won a Royal Television Award in 2017. The large forward gun can still be seen on the F2 which is an impressive sight. means that Scapa Flow offers some of the best wreck diving experiences in the world. The namesake of the König class battleships, the SMS König is different than its sister ships, the Markgraf and Kronprinz Wilhelm. These are shallow wrecks from WWI that were used to prevent access through narrow channels into the flow. The present boat is the MV Crusader, a 63 ft converted side netter built of larch on … SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm. The Seahorse Dive Club will be visiting the historic natural harbour of Scapa Flow in September 2022 to dive the WWI scuttled shipwrecks from the German High Seas Fleet.. From Old Norse Skalpaflói (bay of the long isthmus), the sheltered waters have played an important role in travel, trade and conflict throughout the centuries. It wasn’t until the Napoleonic era in the early 1800’s that the British first took an interest in Scapa Flow. For those that are already qualified or wanting to do more diving after their course, we offer guided dives both shore diving at the Churchill Barriers and boat diving down to a depth of 45m (depending on certification level). We packed ourselves into as few cars as we could, and headed north on Midsummer's Day. Several of the remaining wrecks are overturned and are too deep or broken up to be salvaged. SMS Dresden. Scapa Flow has a dive centre located Stromness but as of 2020 they have stopped doing diving trips to the wrecks. The German Fleet at Scapa Flow at the end of WWI (credit Orkney library). After Eckernförde, SMS Dresden moved to Swinemünde in the Baltic Sea. Here is a list of the best wrecks and dive sites that we take you to in Scapa Flow and Shetland. Mountain View Category: Deep diving. The bridge has fallen away from the ship, however the four inch thick armoured control tower which it sat on still remains attached to the superstructure. 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