wreck

Log This Dive

INCENTIVE

The Incentive is one of those smaller wrecks in Scapa Flow that often gets overlooked, but we think that’s a real shame. This isn’t a German battleship, obviously, but for a smaller technical dive, it’s got a great personality. The fishing vessel sank in 2002 after taking on water, and she sits upright on a sandy seabed at 60 metres. The wheelhouse is still largely intact, and you can peer into the bridge, imagining the crew’s last moments as the engine died. It’s a wonderfully silty wreck, so good trim and buoyancy are essential, but for those with the skills, the rewards are there. We love seeing the resident wolf fish – there are usually a couple lurking in the nooks, unafraid of lights. Their knowing eyes always seem to greet us. The intact nets draped over the bow and stern are now home to squat lobsters and crabs, and the entire structure is thick with plumose anemones, creating a soft, colourful fuzz. It’s a dive that suits experienced technical divers looking for something a bit different, a more intimate encounter with a modern wreck. Dive it on a calm day; the visibility can be excellent down there when the surface is settled.