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HMS ROSE VALLEY

The HMS *Rose Valley* is one of those Scapa Flow wrecks we always make time for, even if it doesn't get the same fanfare as the big battleships. It’s an old trawler, just 26 metres long, sitting upright in about 15 metres of water, usually on a silty seabed. You can often get some surprisingly good light down there, filtering through the water and giving the whole wreck a moody, atmospheric glow. What we love about the *Rose Valley* is its accessibility and the sheer volume of life that’s made it home. Shoals of saithe and pollack hang off the mast, and the hull plating is thick with soft corals, dead man's fingers, and anemones. We’ve seen conger eels poking their heads out from cracks in the engine room, and the bow section, in particular, is a great spot for crabs and lobsters. Our favourite trick is to take a moment near the stern, letting our eyes adjust to the low light, and watch the smaller fish darting in and out of the propeller shaft. It’s not a deep dive, so you get plenty of bottom time to really explore every nook and cranny. It’s perfect for divers who appreciate the quiet beauty of a smaller wreck, where history and marine life intertwine without the crowds.