FAIR DAWN - Scapa Flow, Orkney

Fair Dawn is one of our favourite Scapa Flow wrecks that isn't German. Forget the battleships for a moment. This little wooden fishing vessel, lost in '74, offers a completely different vibe, and we love it for that. She sits at a comfortable 30 metres, mostly intact, though time and tide have taken their toll on the superstructure. What you get here is a real sense of a working boat, not a war machine. We particularly enjoy poking around the wheelhouse area, imagining the skipper at the helm. Inside the hull, the single shaft and engine are still clearly visible, cloaked in anemones and dead man’s fingers. Ling and conger eels often peek out from darker corners, and the schools of saithe that hang around the wreck can be incredible, sometimes so thick they blot out the ambient light. It’s a gentler dive than some of Scapa’s giants, perfect for those days when you want to take your time and appreciate the smaller details and the sheer resilience of marine life. Just watch for the currents around Start Point, they can be a bit lively on a big tide.

Location
Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
59.279552, -2.375040
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
30m

Marine Protected Area: Northwall

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 FAIR DAWN

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 FAIR DAWN

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