HMS Aldenham - Istria Peninsula
The Morvina, a blockade runner from the Second World War, lies broken on her starboard side in Scapa Flow. We love her because she’s accessible, sitting in around 16 metres, which makes for a long bottom time, perfect for exploring every nook. You’ll feel the chill of the Orkney water, but quickly forget it as you drop onto her deck. The stern is our favourite part, with the propeller still in place and usually covered in large plumose anemones swaying in the gentle current. Inside the holds, you’ll find schools of cod and pollock hanging around the exposed girders, occasionally startling you as they dart past. The wreck itself, though broken, still holds a lot of character, draped in kelp and colourful sponges. Look closely for the smaller stuff too; nudibranchs are often tucked into crevices. This site suits divers who appreciate history and enjoy the quiet intimacy of a well-colonised wreck without the deep, dark challenges some of Scapa Flow’s larger German fleet offer. It’s a proper Scapa Flow experience without the heavy deco obligations.
- Location
- Istria Peninsula, Croatia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 44.500000, 14.833333
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Zrće
Best Time to Dive in Istria Peninsula
The warmest water temperatures in Istria Peninsula occur in August, averaging 26.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 11.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 13.5°C
- February: 11.9°C
- March: 11.8°C
- April: 13.4°C
- May: 17.0°C
- June: 22.4°C
- July: 25.6°C
- August: 26.1°C
- September: 23.6°C
- October: 20.3°C
- November: 17.8°C
- December: 15.8°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Istria Peninsula
- 100 Steps
- 1. Niederbayerischer Tauchsportclub Plattling e.V.
- 3 Zinnen - 18m
- A CAPELLINI - 11m (wreck)
- Accademia Blu Diving Center
- Allgäuer Taucherhof
- Allmannshausen: Naturschutzgebiet
- Allmannshausen: Seeburg
- Allmannshausen: Wasserwacht
- Allmannshauser Steilwand
- Almsee (reef)
- Alpenblick
- Alte Badanstalt
- Alte Brücke-Flurlingersteg
- Alte Julierbrücke
Nearest Dive Centres to HMS Aldenham
- 100 x 100 Diving - PADI, TECREC, DAN, EFR
- ACQUASUB VICENZA TEAM asd
- Albarella Diving Center SSDRL
- Apnea Slovenija
- Aquaemotion SSD SRL
- Aquanautic Elba - SSI
Marine Life in Istria Peninsula
Home to 48 recorded species including 28 reef fish, 7 sharks & rays, 3 other, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 octopus & squid, 1 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Corb (Sciaena umbra) - Reef Fish
- Cape Shark (Squalus acanthias) - Sharks & Rays
- conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
- Common lobster (Homarus gammarus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common Eagle Ray (Myliobatis aquila) - Sharks & Rays
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) - Sharks & Rays
- Common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) - Sharks & Rays
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Blackspotted Smoothhound (Mustelus punctulatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Leidy's Comb Jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi)
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Slender Seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) - Seagrass & Algae
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- european squid (Loligo vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for HMS Aldenham
Based on average water temperature of 18.3°C, currents 2 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 18°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories