Wreck in Scapa Flow

Wreck in Scapa Flow

Scuba Travel ambassador PA Andersson and a group of divers recently returned from Scotland. They were there to experience and dive on wrecks in Scapa Flow. One of the world's best destinations for wreck diving. He has written a travelogue which you can read below.

If you get the urge to experience wrecks in Scapa Flow yourself, we have a group trip there with PA as ambassador, That trip will go in October 2019. It was then 100 years since the high seas fleet was sunk, which means that the area is "celebrating" its 100th anniversary. Read more about the trip they made in 2017 here.

Scape Flow

"Scape Flow, nestled between the islands of Orkney in northern Scotland, is a wreck diver's paradise with extensive history from both WW1 and WW2. For a week in May, a group of happy divers gathered at Arlanda to experience the wings of history together.

Scapa Flow is a natural harbor of great strategic importance and here the German High Seas Fleet gathered to be interned at the end of the First World War while peace was negotiated. On June 21, 1919, the British fleet left Scapa Flow and the Germans unguarded to go out on high seas exercises. German Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter took advantage of this opportunity and ordered by flag signal all German ships to be sunk by their crews.

A total of 52 ships were sunk out of the 72 that were interned and today there are seven left that form the basis of wreck diving in Scapa. 3 Battleships - SMS König, SMS Markgraf, SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm 23 Cruisers SMS Cöln, SMS Dresden, SMS Karlsruhe 1 Minuteman SMS Brummer. All the ships are well over 100m long and with their majestic cannons, torpedoes, hulls and rudders they provide an unforgettable diving experience.

Day trips MV Huskyan

The diving takes place from MV Huskyan which is the best dive boat I have ever set foot on. Everything is well thought out, designed and constructed for divers in Nordic waters. Skipper Emily Turton puts on a big show with her interactive dive briefings and delicious cooking. It feels like you are at a training camp in wreck diving and are being trained from the ground up. Constructions, functions and history behind every detail and sequence of events that made the wrecks what they are today.

With good sonar pictures, drawings and pictures taken on site, we are guided through detail by detail. At the same time, it is no more than what the divers can remember to cover the available dive time. The focus is to get the most out and enjoy without stressing around the wreck and burning unnecessary gas and dive time on the wrong things. The detail is almost overwhelming. When you reach the surface, you are smoothly picked up by the boat and take an elevator up to the deck. No unnecessary effort.

Scapa Flow is world-class wreck diving and although the wrecks are slowly breaking down, there is more to see with each dive and we are lured back with each briefing. There is more and what are we doing then and what have we missed. Wreck diving in these conditions is hard to find and here we are treated to a buffet of the best. Visibility was above average and with good weather and surface light the wrecks showed their best sides. The wrecks in Scapa Flow are for all divers and a great opportunity for someone to get wrecked for real."

- PA Andersson