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Scapa Flow German High Seas Fleet

DivingNo permitNo mooring buoys

Wrecks · Also good for anchoring

Britain, Ireland & the North Sea, GBScapa Flow German High Seas Fleet
Best time
May–Sep
Water temp.
8–14 °C
Dive depth
12–47 m
Coordinates58°53′24″ N, 3°10′48″ W

Three König-class battleships (Markgraf, Kronprinz Wilhelm, König) and four light cruisers (Karlsruhe, Brummer, Cöln, Dresden) lying in the Flow. 12-inch gun turrets, armoured belts, and cruiser decks you can swim the length of. Cold, green, and utterly overwhelming in scale. On 21 June 1919, Rear Admiral von Reuter, interned with 74 German warships and convinced the Armistice was ending without a treaty, signalled his fleet to scuttle. 52 ships went to the bottom in a single afternoon, the greatest act of self-destruction in naval history. Most were salvaged; these seven remain, protected. Anchorage: Excellent sheltered anchorages throughout Scapa Flow; Stromness and Kirkwall marinas. Hazards: 8-14°C water, drysuit essential; viz 8-15m, better on the neaps.

Weather

°C°F

Experiences nearby