HMY IOLAIRE
Protected Area
Tong Saltings
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) - HMY IOLAIRE offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The HMY Iolaire isn't about deep diving or huge wrecks, it’s about a moment in history, a stark reminder of tragedy, and surprisingly good diving for its shallow depth. Lying in just 11 metres, she’s completely broken up, more a debris field than a recognisable yacht, but that's precisely her charm. We love poking around the scattered plates and twisted metal, imagining the chaos of her sinking in 1919. Our favourite part is the engine block, still largely intact and bristling with life – velvet swimming crabs scuttling over the gauges, dogfish tucked into crevices. The visibility here can be excellent, especially on a calm day, letting you really appreciate the scale of the wreckage. It’s perfect for a long, relaxed dive, even for newer wreck divers, giving you plenty of time to explore every nook and cranny. Just watch for occasional boat traffic; it's a busy part of the Flow.
Typical HMY IOLAIRE 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.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Reviews for HMY IOLAIRE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for HMY IOLAIRE
HMY IOLAIRE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for HMY IOLAIRE, 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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