wreck

Log This Dive

IVY ROSE

The Ivy Rose, Scapa Flow. It’s a good one, proper character. We’ve always had a soft spot for wrecks that feel like they just… stopped. No massive explosions, no dramatic sinking, just a working boat that hit the rocks and now rests quietly. At 19m, it’s a comfortable depth for most, sitting upright, with the bow facing east. What makes it special for us? It’s the intact nature of the stern, the propeller still there, framed by the cold, green water. You can follow the length of the hull, feeling the chill of the Orkney current, imagining the last moments of this fishing vessel. Inside the wheelhouse, if you dare to peer, the decay is beautiful, metal eaten away, allowing light to filter in in unexpected ways. Conger eels love the darker recesses, and the whole structure is carpeted in anemones and dead man’s fingers. Visibility varies, as it always does here, but when it’s good, you get this incredible sense of the wreck’s scale against the flat seabed. We think it’s a brilliant dive for those who appreciate the somber history of Scapa Flow’s smaller wrecks, a real connection to the working life of the islands. Expect to spend a solid 40 minutes just exploring the deck, the holds, and watching the fish dart amongst the wreckage.