GOLDEN WEST
Protected Area
Cailleach Head
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) - GOLDEN WEST offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Golden West might not be one of the Scapa Flow big guns, but we love it for a quick, shallow dive with plenty of atmosphere. This isn't some ancient war relic; she's a sizeable modern yacht, sunk at her moorings back in 1970. We remember descending through the green Orkney water onto her deck, the light filtering in really bringing out the details. At just 10 metres, it's an easy dive, perfect for warming up or for newer wreck divers. You can spend a good long time poking around the superstructure, which is still largely intact. Look for the wheelhouse, it's quite something. What really makes it for us is the sheer number of squat lobsters hiding in every nook and cranny. Seriously, they're everywhere. We’ve also seen some unusually large butterfish here, tucked into the corners. It’s a great site if you're looking for something different from the usual battleship fare, especially on a day when the deeper sites are a bit too challenging.
Typical GOLDEN WEST Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
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.
Reviews for GOLDEN WEST
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for GOLDEN WEST
GOLDEN WEST Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for GOLDEN WEST, 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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