wreck

Log This Dive

DISPERSER

The DISPERSER is often overlooked in Scapa Flow, overshadowed by the German High Seas Fleet, but we think that's a mistake. This isn't a massive warship, rather a compact, characterful steamship sitting upright in a modest 11 metres. Built in 1912, she went down in 1940, and time has given her a wonderful, encrusted texture. Drop down and you're immediately on the deck. Her boiler is still very much in place, a solid, dark presence attracting conger eels. We've often found them peeking from cracks, thick as your arm. The stern has started to break down, revealing internal structure, perfect for poking around with a torch, revealing nudibranchs and squat lobsters tucked into every nook. Visibility here can be surprisingly good on a calm day, letting you appreciate the full outline of the hull, and the way the light filters through the surface green. It’s a photographer's dream for wide-angle shots showing the wreck's scale against the water column. This site suits divers looking for an intimate wreck experience, where the history is palpable and the marine life, while not tropical, is abundant and engaging.