CLARKWOOD - Scapa Flow, Orkney

The *Clarkwood* in Scapa Flow, she's a proper trawler wreck, not a battleship, but that’s precisely why we love her. Lying at 40 metres, she offers a different kind of Scapa experience, a dive that feels more intimate, less about scale and more about texture and detail. We’ve spent hours here, tracing the outline of her hull, feeling the cold, dark water embrace us as we descend. Her demise in 1975 means she’s had plenty of time to settle and, crucially, to become a home. The deck guns and massive engines of the battleships are impressive, yes, but here you find fishing gear, winches, the smaller, more personal touches of a working vessel. We’ve seen conger eels coiled in the engine room, their thick bodies camouflaged against the rust, and the occasional ling poking out from under plates of collapsed steel. The visibility can be temperamental, as is Scapa's way, but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the superstructure, illuminating anemones and dead man's fingers clinging to every surface. This is a dive for those who appreciate the quiet dignity of a working vessel reclaimed by the sea. Expect to spend your bottom time exploring compartments, peeking into the wheelhouse, and enjoying the surprising amount of life that has moved in.

Location
Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
58.582935, -3.918119
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
40m

Marine Protected Area: Strathy Coast

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Nearest Dive Centres to CLARKWOOD

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.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for CLARKWOOD

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