G 86 - Scapa Flow, Orkney
G 86 in Scapa Flow is one of those deeper, more broken up destroyers that really rewards a close inspection. Lying on its starboard side, the stern section has suffered quite a lot of damage, but you can still make out the torpedo tubes and a good chunk of the deck guns. It’s all encrusted now, of course, with dead man's fingers and anemones, which always makes for interesting macro photography if you remember your torch. We often see decent-sized cod patrolling the bow, and there’s usually a resident wrasse or two darting between the plates. It’s a good dive for those with decent buoyancy control, keen to explore the history rather than just glide over it.
- Location
- Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 58.855140, -3.186012
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 14m
Marine Protected Area: Hoy
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
- 090 - 26m (wreck)
- AASE - 60m (wreck)
- ABERDEEN CITY - 5m (wreck)
- AC6 - 5m (wreck)
- ACHILLES - 32m (wreck)
- ACTIVE - 42m (wreck)
- Aith Baa (reef)
- ALABAMA - 12m (wreck)
- ALCORA (POSSIBLY) - 40m (wreck)
- ALMERIA - 5m (wreck)
- ANDALINA - 8m (wreck)
- ANDRIAS - 27m (wreck)
- ANVERS - 52m (wreck)
- AORANGI - 5m (wreck)
- ARCADIA - 30m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to G 86
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
- Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
- Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
- dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
- harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
- grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
- long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
- Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
- lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
- white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
- Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for G 86
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