Diving in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Explore 1031 dive sites in Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Scapa Flow, Orkney

The warmest water temperatures in Scapa Flow, Orkney occur in January, averaging 8.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 8.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 8.4°C (air: 5.5°C)
  • February: 8.4°C (air: 5.3°C)
  • March: 8.4°C (air: 5.9°C)
  • April: 8.4°C (air: 6.8°C)
  • May: 8.4°C (air: 9.7°C)
  • June: 8.4°C (air: 12.4°C)
  • July: 8.4°C (air: 13.2°C)
  • August: 8.4°C (air: 13.7°C)
  • September: 8.4°C (air: 12.7°C)
  • October: 8.4°C (air: 10.2°C)
  • November: 8.4°C (air: 8.0°C)
  • December: 8.4°C (air: 5.8°C)

Marine Life in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Home to 155 recorded species including 63 reef fish, 17 whales & dolphins, 12 sharks & rays, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Dive Site Difficulty in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Scapa Flow, Orkney has 1 beginner, 1 intermediate, 2 advanced dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Scapa Flow, Orkney

Based on average water temperature of 8.4°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 8°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • 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

Marine Protected Areas in Scapa Flow, Orkney

  • Forvie - National Nature Reserve (IUCN Category II)
  • Hoy and West Mainland - National Scenic Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Kyle of Tongue - National Scenic Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North-West Sutherland - National Scenic Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Assynt - Coigach - National Scenic Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Wester Ross - National Scenic Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Dornoch Firth - National Scenic Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Donmouth - Local Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Loch of Strathbeg - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Milton Ness - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Durness - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Crawton Bay - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Foula Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Bay of Skaill - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Lower River Conon - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Longman and Castle Stuart Bays - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Auskerry - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Collieston to Whinnyfold Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rosehearty to Fraserburgh Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Loch of Strathbeg - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cove - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Eynhallow - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Pool of Virkie - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Gamrie and Pennan Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Marwick Head - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sule Skerry - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Northwall - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Garron Point - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • St Ninian's Tombolo - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Holm of Papa Westray - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Lower River Spey - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Copinsay - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cairnbulg to St Combs Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Foveran Links - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Bullers of Buchan Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • St Cyrus and Kinnaber Links - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Whitehills to Melrose Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Sumburgh Head - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Masonshaugh - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Central Sanday - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sule Stack - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sands of Forvie and Ythan Estuary - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cullen to Stake Ness Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Spey Bay - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Waulkmill - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Muckle and Little Green Holm - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Nigg Bay - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Fowlsheugh - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rosemarkie to Shandwick Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Gress Saltings - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • John o' Groats - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Sandside Bay - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Morrich More - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cailleach Head - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Rubha Dunan - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Cromarty Firth - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Inverbrora - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Tong Saltings - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Tarbat Ness - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Loch na Cartach - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Loch Fleet - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Dunbeath to Sgaps Geo - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Beauly Firth - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Whiteness Head - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Dunrobin Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Berriedale Cliffs - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Munlochy Bay - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Scourie Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Dornoch Firth - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Helmsdale Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Long Berry Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category III)
  • Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category V)
  • Moray and Nairn Coast - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Loch Fleet - National Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • East Sanday Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Eilean Hoan - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Faray and Holm of Faray - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Pentland Firth Islands - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Strathy Coast - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Switha - Site of Special Scientific Interest (IUCN Category IV)
  • Findhorn Bay - Local Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cromarty Firth - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Sanday Coast - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Inner Moray Firth - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Ythan Estuary & Meikle Loch - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Merkinch - Local Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Calf of Eday - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cape Wrath - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Copinsay - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cromarty Firth - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Dornoch Firth and Morrich More - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Caithness Cliffs - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Sanday Coast - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Fair Isle - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Faray and Holm of Faray - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Foula - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Fowlsheugh - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Handa - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Hoy - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Inner Moray Firth - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Loch Laxford - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh Reefs - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Marwick Head - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Moray and Nairn Coast - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Moray Firth - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North Caithness Cliffs - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North Rona and Sula Sgeir - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North Rona - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Rousay - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sanday - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Solan Bank Reef - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sule Skerry and Sule Stack - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sumburgh Head - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Troup, Pennan and Lion`s Heads - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • West Westray - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Caithness Cliffs - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Mousa to Boddam - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Noss Head - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Papa Westray - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Wester Ross - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Wyre and Rousay Sounds - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • North-west Orkney - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Central Fladen - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Turbot Bank - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • West Shetland Shelf - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Copinsay - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Fowlsheugh - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Noup Cliffs - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sumburgh Head - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Loch Of Strathbeg - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Nigg & Udale Bays - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Culbin Sands - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Edderton Sands - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • East Caithness Cliffs - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lochs Duich, Long and Aish - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Mousa to Boddam - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Noss Head - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Papa Westray - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Wester Ross - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Wyre and Rousay Sounds - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North-west Orkney - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Central Fladen - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Turbot Bank - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • West Shetland Shelf - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Fair Isle - Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Spey Bay - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Loch Fleet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Little Linga Holm - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Loch Carron - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Loch Carron - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • North-east Lewis - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Shiant East Bank - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Southern Trench - Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sumburgh Head - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lower River Spey - Spey Bay - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Invernaver - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Oldshoremore and Sandwood - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Sanday Coast - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Rousay - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Auskerry - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Calf of Eday - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Troup, Pennan and Lion's Heads - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Switha - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Solan Bank Reef - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North Rona and Sula Sgeir - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cromarty Firth - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Inner Moray Firth - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Moray and Nairn Coast - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Loch of Strathbeg - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Fowlsheugh - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Loch Laxford - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Caithness Cliffs - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Buchan Ness to Collieston - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sanday - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Dornoch Firth and Morrich More - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Culbin Bar - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Moray Firth - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Faray and Holm of Faray - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh Reefs - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North Rona - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Moray Firth - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Seas off Foula - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Pentland Firth Islands - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • North Caithness Cliffs - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • East Caithness Cliffs - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cape Wrath - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Handa - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Strathy Point - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Foula - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Fair Isle - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • West Westray - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Papa Westray (North Hill and Holm) - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Marwick Head - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Hoy - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Copinsay - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sule Skerry and Sule Stack - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Scapa Flow, Orkney - Nearest Airports

  • Wick John O'Groats Airport (WIC), Wick - 13 km away, approx 30 min travel time
  • Aberdeen International Airport (ABZ), Aberdeen - 163 km away, approx 193 min travel time
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Edinburgh - 291 km away, approx 333 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres