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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. Click here to view a short preview of their video - you need the free Real Player application, available by clicking here. Some of the wrecks are described below by Stevie Mowat, who has had many years experience of chartering boats. For further information, including details of dive boat charters, please see the the Diving section of the Website links page. |
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Burra Sound, First and Second World War Blockships are only 20 minutes steaming from Stromness. They lie in about 10 - 15 metres and make very interesting and popular, slack water, shallow dives. Compared to the German Fleet, these wrecks are a more comfortable and identifiable SIZE with lots of marine life and excellent visibility. 1. Inverlane. 8,900 ton oil tanker, Now not safe to dive inside, due to hull collapse and no longer safe to tie up to, but can be swum around in great visibility at slack water. Still an excellent dive. 2. Tabarka. 2,624 tons a 1909 steamer. 12 m, slack water only. This wreck is upside down and is a challenging dive for experienced divers. 3. Doyle. 1,761 tons, 1907 steamer. Slack water dive. Lots of wrasse, crabs, lobsters and the possibility of a wolf fish in the bows. 4. Gobernador Bories. (see drawing) 2,332 tons. Slack water only. A most picturesque wreck. Swim the who a hull length inside. The fish are very tame and will follow you to be fed with sea urchins. Lots of light inside. Visibility 30m and lots of sea life. A camera here is a must. Other wrecks here dispersed by 5001b mines include: Budrie 2252 tons, Rotherfield 2831 tons, Ronda 1941 tons and Urmston Grange 3423 tons. There is much other wreckage scattered over a wide area. Most divers visit Burra Sound often and take home some of their most pleasant memories of diving Scapa Flow from here. by Stevie Mowat
German Naval Wrecks. The remaining German Wrecks from the First World War are closely grouped near the island of Cava, lying between the Mainland and Hoy. 1.
König. Lies almost upside-down, in
34-37 metres of water. Most damaged of the German Wrecks. The hull is
opened along much of its length, exposing the vessel's tangled innards.
Divers may pass under the wreck to view the central turret. 2.
Kronprinz Wilhelm. Settled
upside-down in 38 metres of water. Many sections of the ship's hull
have been removed. The foghorn is visible underneath, perfectly perserved,
and the ship can be entered to view the galley. 3.
Markgraf. Settled at a depth of 24 metres.
Though originally lying on its starboard side, the ship's weight has
caused it to turn hull-uppermost.
Open hull sections allow a view of the torpedo room, and the diver may
swim right through the ship's stern. 4.
Brummer. Lies on its starboard side in
34 metres of water. Divers can enter the upper and middle decks, to
view crew accomodation. The bridge, the remains of the boiler room,
and officers' accomodation are also accessible. 5.
Karlsruhe. Lies on its starboard side in
24-27 metres of water. Visibility is the best of the German Wrecks.
Much of the ship has been damaged by salvage operations, but the remaining
parts still contain many interesting features. There is an opening in
the platform deck, which allows access to an electrical control room. 6.
Köln II. Settled on its starboard
side in 34 metres of water. It is possible to enter the ship through
a hole in the forecastle deck, and to examine the conning-tower. 7.
Dresden II. Settled in 33-36 metres of
water, lying on its starboard side, Dresden
is almost intact. It is possible to enter the Commanding Officer's quarters,
and there are many opportunities to view features on the outside of
the wreck. |
"The Flow" boasts other wrecks and "scrapyard" sites too numerous to mention in detail, but diving in Orkney would be incomplete without a visit to some of the more scenic sites. Stanger Head with a deep drop straight off the cliffs, enormous rocks on the bottom with big caves and a swimmable passage right through the headland. The Old Man of Hoy is on the Atlantic side of Orkney. To reach this world famous rock stack, the short voyage around the red sandstone cliffs of the Kame of Hoy and St. John's Head is quite breathtaking. At 1200ft St John's is the highest vertical cliff face in Britain. Weather permitting, it's possible to dive at the "feet of the Old Man". Inganess is a dive to explore deep gullies with their own undersea ecosystem. With an amazing variety of marine flora and fauna lnganess is a must for a scenic dive. In first class visibility, this is the place for crayfish.
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