Diving the wrecks of Scapa Flow WW1

Orkney Islands, location of Scapa Flow a natural harbor since the days of the Nordic invaders, most recently, a base for the Royal Navy, The final resting place for the remains of the German High Seas Fleet and the destination for this years Selby Aquanauts diving expedition.

The story begins in the early twentieth century, when German colonies envy of its European neighbors and the richness they bring decided to build a navy to match that of the Royal Navy, while the most powerful in the world and protector of the greatest empire the world has known. With the Royal Navy as a destination Germany started the first arms race of the 20th century.

The policy of the Royal Navy at this time would be able to outfight and outgun the second and third marine in the world combined so that no two countries could form an alliance to defeat Britain and Germany began when Britain was very interested in building.

Since Britain was always more of a maritime nation that Germany was the infrastructure in place to build ships at will, so this was a race Germany was destined to lose, especially when Britain held the first of a new class of warship, the Dreadnought "bigger and powerful than any ever built warship gave his name to a new class of ships.

As the great war began Germany's naval policy was to bomb the cities of the East of England to tempt out of the Royal Navy and carried out individually. This policy has never worked as, Germany, always nervous about what was on the horizon, they tend to hit and run for two powerful military play a game of cat and mouse around the Northern Sea, everyone wanting to meet in battle but nervous about the strength of their opponents, until May 1916. Both fleets were in force when a Danish merchant ship steamed in the past and both teams sent a detachment horiz to investigate. The British ships were met by a force outnumbering the German "High Seas" of the fleet to return and carry the Germans in battle in the canyons of the rapidly advancing armored Fleet "Great." As night fell neither party could claim a victory. The Royal Navy had lost more ships, but this was reduced to lighter armor to keep the boat faster and more maneuverable. Most vessels Germans had suffered damage that would have sunk a British ship so come the morning, the German fleet had fled to port for repairs, helmets, many of they just floating.

The next day the "Great Fleet" was back at sea and the "High Seas Fleet" was blocked at the port never jump into the sea in force for the rest of the war.

As the war came to an end the once proud German Navy escorted interned at Scapa Flow, where in a final defiant act sank 74 of his own ships. Some escaped, others stranded and during the 20's and early 30's a massive rescue operation involving and many of the boats were rescued from the scrap, but with the onset of World War II stopped this, then, in 1945, when World War 2 had ended shortage of scrap for the remaining 14 vessels were left to rest.

The dive trip

Sailing south from our base at Stromness in Mainland Orkney spent meditating high hills of Hoy as our right and head slightly east to the calm waters of Scapa Flow Part islands. In the far we can see the low mounds of Burray, Flotta, Holm, Fara and Ronaldsay. Today of course got its name because it is the hoyest island in Orkney, the Vikings or had a sense of humor or were not very imaginative with the name given. It's a glorious day, the sun shone in the blue green water ahead. It is a journey of forty minutes on the boat Today we are diving. No rush to get our equipment and so for the next half hour the usual leg pulling and mickey taking goes on. During this time most of the divers have brought their art from the drying room where they hung last night and are starting to mount. A number of jobs must do, making sure you have a good air fill yesterday, and most of the divers on board to analyze the filling Nitrox (Nitrox is an oxygen-enriched air that has recently become the gas of choice for most of those responsible and suitably qualified divers) Because the ship was full of people from Yorkshire had assumed the using air tight wad all week because it was free, my bill nitrox for the week was £ 19.50 which I though was good value especially when it is increasing dive time by 30%.

We are diving into the "Brummer" today and with ten minutes to go to Captain Robert notes below the house government to push us to action.

We get to the wreck equipped and ready to go and how to get off at Robert slows the water. The wreck is bouy to meet my partner in the buoy that the signs of change and begin the descent. Natural light fades as we move deeper until we see a dark shape in the darkness below. Landing on the deck along a line of empty portholes OKsignals change, adjust our buoyancy and glide over the side. The Brummer was lying on its side and we intend to cut off the fins along the deck which is now upright in our side.Descending the sea bottom look up and wreckage is cut in the glow greenyblue from above. Ascending bit we set off along the deck of our torches choose various features until, passing the anchor chain winch arrived at the mouth of a 5.9 "gun, slipped along the barrel and round the shield reached the control tower, the command center when in battle, the access door behind the control tower to go kick it with caution, silt disturbed threaten our vision so we leave the bridge where empty windows still look out for the battle that will never come. Beyond that rigging is broken, fallen wires hanging rails and proving their age. Check our computers and content indicators 35 minutes later we decided that's it for this dive and walk our way to the line. Sunlight shines on us as we make our ascent and after a pause of 6 meters for a safety stop eventually emerge in the morning sun. James on the bridge is waiting to exchange signals right with us and soon Robert comes to pick us up. Another great dive. Once everyone Back on board we're ready to Lyness naval base used to be to visit the museum and a bowl of soup in the Naafi. At the moment we turn to an hour and a half later, James load is finishing up our drums and Robert is out flat on the top floor asleep in the sun. Awakened by our return soon James was stripped away and to our second dive.

T

he Second dive offers a selection of shallower dives. There are the sunk blockships sounds between the islands to keep the U boats, the second and first world war, a dive boat, dive bottle of years where garbage has been dumped by overboard (I found a glazed stoneware preserve jar similar to one in the Stromness Museum, others have found an interesting assortment of old bottles) and the escort boat F2 German corvettes similar to RN. This was taken in war reparations, but it sank, believed to have originated shortly after a severe loss and was not considered an elevation value. This is the one chosen. An interesting point of this clash is that in 1968 was sold for salvage and rescue during a storm broke and the barge rescue with all parties got saved once again. The wreck lies in only 16 meters at high tide and rises to within 7 meters from the surface. The hull is split two foot aft and the rest of her port side. We drop down on the barge and explore the parts salvaged for a while then follow the line of weeds covered the F2 which appears be a source of interest for a number of fish over a foot long that follow us everywhere in the wreck. Like all the wrecks that is covered with life. Apart from the many types of fish that is the hallmark of strange. There are numerious examples of small Devonshire cup coral, anemone many types including large feathers, many types of stars sea including some huge sunstars about a foot wide and at all growth projections and the superstructure dead fingers, a soft coral. There are also many sponges, sea jets and sea urchins and crabs of course, lobsters and seafood Many of the spider crabs grow a garden of weeds in the back so often, while about seabed a tuft of grass away soon.

Upon exiting the break in the hull we need to back up slightly to get to the other side to reach the superstructure where the mast is only set on the seabed reflector platform still recognizable. The gun is intact and forward starboard anchor chain holds the bow. As a smaller boat to shallow they are able to cover the entire wreck in one dive and still find time to pick a scallops bag of tonights meal. Nice fried in garlic butter.

Other remains were plunged into the trip are Kronprinz Wilhelm, Karlsruhe, Cologne, Dresden, Governor Bories and Tabarka. The latter is a blockship in Burra Sound. Formerly a merchant ship is upside down or in a place of strong tides swept and therefore not silt inside was disturbing. The plates are missing, but the construction looks good, so enter. Passing the torch through the engine room is needed, because without them it is pitch black. Three boilers were in a row at the bottom and below one is a large lobster (tonights tea) While my friend is trying Christine to unravel bit me on the back of his leg, has jumped after a blow to my problems. Passing through the dark engine room we see two torches more rays coming toward us and two more of our club through the exchange gives the go-ahead on the road.

This was the last dive and the heavy heart and fond memories of a fantastic week of diving we headed back to Stromness to pack ready for the long drive home tomorrow.

If you inspired by the history of our dive trip, why not take a diving course and join us at one of our many trips around Britain. Contact Contact John Hewitt. master scuba diver trainer in Selby 702 487 and the adventure can begin.

The club meets at the New Inn in Selby Thursday afternoon if you want to call to chat.

This article was written by John Hewitt a BS-AC and PADI Instructor, founding member of Selby Aquanauts and CEO of Red Hat scuba gear. He can be reached at john@divertrainingservices.co.uk or check out their website and Red Hat team www.johnhewitt.com

About the Author

Founding member of SAA club Selby Aquanauts and CEO of Red Hat Diving. BCD manufacturer.

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