HMSM TANTIVY - Scapa Flow, Orkney

The HMSM Tantivy, a T-class submarine scuttled in 1951, offers a different flavour of Scapa Flow wreck diving. Lying at 36 metres, it’s a substantial beast at 77.4 metres long, largely intact and resting on its starboard side. We love that you can really appreciate its shape, the conning tower still identifiable, the hull streaked with anemones and the occasional squat lobster peering from a crevice. Exploration here feels like a journey through time. You’ll fin past open torpedo tubes, their shadows inviting, and the large hatches, though we’d suggest keeping external to appreciate the sheer scale. Visibility can be typical Scapa Flow, a green but often bright 10-15 metres, which really allows the Tantivy to emerge from the murk. It’s a dive for those who appreciate military history and a good, solid wreck that tells its own story without needing to be penetrated.

Location
Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
57.674600, -3.834217
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
36m

Marine Protected Area: Moray Firth

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

Nearest Dive Centres to HMSM TANTIVY

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

Recommended Packing List for HMSM TANTIVY

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