
Land-based diving Scapa Flow
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About land-based diving Scapa Flow, Scotland
- 7 German wrecks, including battleships & cruisers
- A variety of other wrecks, beautiful kelp forest and rock formations
- Customized boat schedules and tours according to your group's wishes
As well as being one of the most picturesque areas in Scotland, Scapa Flow is also widely recognized as one of the best wreck diving destinations in the world and Atlantic especially. The main attraction for land-based diving in Scapa Flow is the World War I German High Seas Fleet. Embedded in the still green waters since 1919, after the sinking by Admiral Von Reuter. Three 25797 ton battleships, three light cruisers, one fast minesweeper, several sites related to the sinking are also located in the main area. All offer fantastic diving. Covered with marine life, massive cannons and well-preserved, these wrecks mean there's something for everyone.
Here you stay comfortably at a diving resort and go diving during the day. The boat is so big and well furnished that it is also possible to act as one live board. You will then come to other dive sites in the area, but this requires some foresight and planning.
Wrecks of Scapa Flow
WWII Escort Vessel – Flottenbegleiter Number Zwei
Length: 75.94 meters
Width: 8.8 meters
F2 is on the port side in approximately 18 meters depth, the bridge is intact while the stern has been broken down by the navy. In the bow, the windlass with associated chains is clearly seen and with its conciliatory 4,1 inch cannon behind the windlass. The ship had several anti-aircraft guns when she sank. These have subsequently been salvaged by a vessel named YC21. This salvage barge also sank just 30 meters from F2 during these salvage operations.
Steamship SS Dyle
Length: 79.2m
Width: 10.1m
For years Dyle was incorrectly called SS Doyle. She was built for Wm. Johnson, Northsheilds as SS Widdrington. In 1886 she was sold to Turner, Brightman & Co of Northsheilds. She was renamed SS Dyle when she was bought by Van Hemelryck & Geurts of Antwerp in 1902. The ship was then sold to a British shipbroker in 1914 and sunk as a block ship in the Burra Straits in October of that year. She lies at a depth of 12 – 16 meters on a cliff bottom with surrounding kelp forests. The bow and stern are intact while she is quite broken amidships, the propeller being one of the most attractive parts.
Tabarka
Length: 99.6 meters
Width: 13.44 meters
In 1931 she had her name changed to SS Tabarka. She was expropriated in July 1940 and sunk as a barrier ship in Kirk Sound in 1941. Later in 1944 she was salvaged and sunk again in Burra Sound. This is the largest remaining submersible barrier ship lying upside down at a depth of 12 – 14 meters. There are several blast holes in the sides of the wreck which provide an excellent opportunity to see the interior of the ship. The entire dive can be spent inside the wreck, with its three-cylinder engine and steam boilers fully visible.
Read more about all the wrecks here.