Do not follow this link, or your host will be blocked from this site. This is a spider trap.
Back to the home page Big Blue Planet was created by Dive-Logs

See more of the best (and worst!) locations for such items as visibility, coral quality, and marine sightings etc.

1:  Cape Town / False Ba...
99%
in South Africa
2:  Manado
98%
in Indonesia
3:  Conception Bay
98%
in Canada (east)
4:  Viti Levu
98%
in Fiji
5:  Queen Charlotte Stra...
98%
in Canada (west)
6:  Koror
97%
in Palau
7:  Bali
97%
in Indonesia
8:  South Male Atoll
96%
in Maldives
9:  Gran Canaria
96%
in Canaries
10:  Halkidiki
96%
in Greece
*Based on your reviews.
More best (and worsts!)...

Want to see the next generation of this site?

Big Blue Planet is now in archive mode.
All the best info has been brought into our online interactive dive log map on DiveLogs.com!

More features, beautiful wall to wall maps, the same goal:
divers helping other divers find their next diving holiday location!

Check it out here

Location: Scapa Flow (Scotland & Northern Ireland)
Please choose the information you would like to see...
Here you can see what other divers thought, the top dive sites, what fish to see, and what wrecks are here.
You can also access an overview of the location, including interactive maps, climate data, and photos.
We also have detailed listings of dive centres, resorts, travel agents and helpfull websites.
No buddies are currently registered for this location!


Top Dive Sites (make sure you dive these!)
1 James Barrie With 2 votes(s).
2 Tabarka With 2 votes(s).
3 Prince Wilhem Battle ship With 1 votes(s).
4 Coln With 1 votes(s).

Marine Sightings:

Based on data from your reviews for Scapa Flow. we know the following about the marine life you can expect to see.
If you have been to Scapa Flow please add a review (see left). Your experience of what you saw will help to extend these results!

Reef Fish Sightings: Pelagic Fish Sightings: Quality of Coral:

Species: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna No data No data No data No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Basking Shark No data No data No data No data No data You may see this No data You may see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Gray Seal No data No data You may see this No data You may see this You may see this No data You should see this
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
No data yet available
Harbour Seal No data No data No data No data No data You may see this No data You may see this You may see this No data No data No data

Reviews:

Here are the last 10 reviews for Scapa Flow. Show all of them.

Visited Comments
June 2008 Same about the viz but this is a Wreck'ies heaven. The block ships have very clear water over them and and swimming through the ribbs of the ships is great. Loads to do when not diving too, with loads very old stuff to look around. all in all a great dive holiday.
Date posted: 18-Jul-2008 15:42 by: Warren_OD
September 2007 This was a superb set of dives for an inexperienced diver (me) and for those with 100s of dives. Only one day blown out but even then 4 went down on the Kronprinz Wilhelm. Can I commend Andy and Ronnie on the MV Jean Elaine who provided a terrific sevice as well as hearty brunches and good cakes - thanyou, Ronnie!
Date posted: 17-Sep-2007 12:32 by: PeterC
July 2003 Dived with the Diving Cellar -great service, great boat, great dving. The Orkneys are a beautiful place and if you're a wreckie you simply have to dive here.
Date posted: 10-Nov-2006 15:02 by: neatdiver
August 2005 Perfect for all levels of diver qualifications. Hardly any days lost to bad weather. Very friendly crew & skippers.
Date posted: 04-Jun-2006 11:22 by: Tim
March 2006 As a resident of the islands, this is an excellent to dive, even outside of the flow. Winter is the best time (except for he odd gale)
Date posted: 23-Mar-2006 17:04 by: James
June 2005 This is a dive into history. The whole dive region appears to be set around the scuttled 1st world war German High Seas Fleet. If you like your wrecks this is a must. Bring a dry suit though and dont expect to see very far. The wwii bomber was superb. Cold rough waters. Fantastic wrecks.
Date posted: 11-Dec-2005 12:24 by: Stevie
May 2002 Fairly new wreck in 40 + metres of water. Lots of cod, whiting and a couple of ling. Best dived on slack water.
Date posted: 31-May-2005 10:52 by: Paul


Wreck Dives:

Here are the wreck dives we know of for Scapa Flow.

Brummer
Ranked as OK by independant reviews Ranked as OK by independant reviews
The Brummer and Bremse took part in a raiding operation against a convoy bound from Bergen to the Shetlands in October 1917. The Brummer can be a darkish dive because of her orientation and partly because this is a more open wreck that divers can partially enter. She lies on her starboard side with her bows slighly shallower than her stern.
20m / 66ft
36m / 118ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration is possible. Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for Brummer:
Not recommended for novices
Date posted: 11-Dec-2005 12:26 by: Stevie who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as OK by StevieRanked as OK by Stevie

Dresden
Ranked as OK by independant reviews Ranked as OK by independant reviews
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.
18m / 59ft
35m / 115ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration is possible. Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for Dresden:
Not for novices
Date posted: 11-Dec-2005 12:27 by: Stevie who thought that: Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this.
Ranked it as: Ranked as OK by StevieRanked as OK by Stevie

Karlsruhe
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. She lies on her starboard side with her stern section relatively intact with capstans and mooring bollards still attached to a sloping quarterdeck.
12m / 39ft
26m / 85ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...

Koeln
Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews
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.
20m / 66ft
35m / 115ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for Koeln:
For less advanced divers, the wreck is good - only 27-26m, and intact, giving a lovely view of what a wreck should look like. Viz can be 20m plus. It is possible to enter a bit, but only if you know what you are doing
Date posted: 23-Mar-2006 17:08 by: james who thought that: Anyone can dive this wreck.
Ranked it as: Ranked as Awesome by jamesRanked as Awesome by jamesRanked as Awesome by james

Koenig
The Koenig was in the 3rd Battleship Squadron. She fought at Jutland, and was hit by the British battleships. The Koenig fought in the conquest of the Baltic islands during 1917. The Koenig is virtually upside down in 40 metres of water and is now a pile of wreckage, but an excellent dive for wreck ferrets. She is big and quite intimidating.
20m / 66ft
40m / 131ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...

Kronprinz Wilhelm
First ordered in April 1912 she was launched on 21st Feb 1914 at the Germania Yard in Kiel. During November 1918 the Armistice was signed and the ship was subsequently sent to Scapa Flow where she was scuttled. She lies on her starboad maindeck with most of her superstructure embedded in the silty bottom. She is virtually upside down and the only access to her decks is from the port side at a depth of 30m plus. The first impression when you dive her is size and confusion. This wreck is enormous and the profusion of steel, wreckage and general debris is overpowering.
12m / 39ft
38m / 125ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...

Markgraf
Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews Ranked as Awesome by independant reviews
The Markgraf lies on her port side with the seabed at around 45 metres, with a least depth of around 24 metres. This is the deepest German battleship. Like all the battleships she is virtually upside down so to get underneath her means getting to the gunwales at around 38 metres. The Markgraf is an exciting and challenging dive. Its depth and position are such that good dive planning is essential.
24m / 79ft
45m / 148ft
Deliberately sunk: 21-Jun-1919 Wreck penetration not possible Technical or decompression diving. More info...
Diver reviews for Markgraf:
A truly great dive. Sea birds at 40m!
Date posted: 24-Mar-2007 17:57 by: Brian who thought that: Technical or decompression diving is required.
Ranked it as: Ranked as Awesome by BrianRanked as Awesome by BrianRanked as Awesome by Brian