Friendly Isle
Protected Area
Moray Firth
Why dive here
With 140+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue whales, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and ocean sunfish (mola mola) - Friendly Isle offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Friendly Isle is a cracking little wreck, one of our favourites in Scapa Flow for a quick, interesting dive. Dropping down, you’ll see the stern first, sitting upright and surprisingly intact for a vessel that only went down in April 2024. What we love about this site, even so soon after its sinking, is how quickly the local wrasse and juvenile pollack have moved in, darting around the mast and the wheelhouse. It’s a great site for divers looking for a less intimidating wreck experience than some of the Flow’s giants. The maximum depth of 34m means you have decent bottom time, and the exposed structure means plenty of light filters through, even on murkier days. Poke around the holds, or just spend your dive circumnavigating the deck; there’s enough here to keep you engaged. We'd suggest aiming for a slack tide; while the Flow is generally forgiving, a little less current always makes for a more relaxed dive.
Typical Friendly Isle Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (34m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 13°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Reviews for Friendly Isle
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Friendly Isle
Friendly Isle Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Friendly Isle, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (58.64, -3.16) (8km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
13°C
55°F · Range: 11.4–13.8°C
Air Temperature
10°C
50°F
Wind Speed
9.26 m/s
18.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1005.3 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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