The sheltered waters of Scapa Flow are a magnet for scuba divers who come to Orkney in their thousands every year to see what lies beneath.  For Orkney offers more than just clean waters and exceptional marine wildlife; it is hailed the finest wreck-diving area in the UK.  There are many wrecks to dive, including the seven remaining ships of the scuttled German fleet.  In 1918 the German High Seas Fleet was interned in Scapa Flow.  But at about noon on midsummer’s day in 1919, all 74 ships were scuttled and sunk rapidly to the seabed on the orders of the commander officer, Admiral von Reuter, who feared the ships would be handed over.  Most have been salvaged but there are three battleships and four cruisers remaining.  All around Orkney there are many other shipwrecks and even aircraft wrecks and underwater archaeology to be explored.  A German U-boat lies in Hoxa Sound and there are blockships, gun turrets and many other interesting wrecks and pieces of wreckage to explore.  Wreck researchers are hunting for and every year finding more ships and aircraft and you could be one of the first to see a vessel or plane for many years since it sunk to the seabed.

Stromness is the hub for divers and diving clubs who are catered for by several dive businesses offering complete holidays, diving courses, tailor-made weeks and charters on specialised dive boats with experienced skippers. Extensive knowledge of the dive sites and dive briefings help visitors make the most of their dives.  Orkney is a top dive destination for beginners who can take a PADI course and explore shallow waters to experienced divers who have plenty to explore. Stromness has accommodation, restaurants, bars, cafes and shops and some of the dive boats offer berths and meals on board or beds and food on land. There are also dive boat charters working out of Kirkwall and St Margaret’s Hope.