wreck

Log This Dive

HMS SALVAGE KING

The HMS Salvage King, despite what the data might suggest, is not a dive. It's barely a snorkel, if we're honest. This is a shore entry, walk-in experience, literally right off the rocks at Scapa Flow. You wade into a couple of metres of water, and there she is: a tugboat, grounded in 1940. We love it for the sheer accessibility and the sense of history that hangs heavy in the air, even at ankle depth. What you'll find here is less a wreck dive and more an intertidal exploration. Her bow breaks the surface, crusted with barnacles and seaweed. Below the waterline, the stern is still remarkably intact, her propeller shaft visible and encrusted with anemones. It's a fantastic spot for photographers looking for an unusual perspective or divers wanting a break from the deeper stuff. You'll spend your time peering into her holds, now home to scuttling crabs and blennies, the light filtering through the shallow water making the rusted metal glow. Don't expect dramatic swim-throughs, but do expect a surprisingly intimate encounter with a piece of wartime history, right at your fingertips.