KAREN JANE
Protected Area
Strathy Point
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) - KAREN JANE offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The *Karen Jane* might be smaller, just 12 metres, but we love her for a quick, atmospheric dive when you’re in Scapa Flow. She’s not one of the big German warships, obviously, but she’s beautifully intact and a fantastic photographic subject. She rests upright on a sandy bottom at 31 metres, easily accessible and often with decent visibility for the area. This fishing vessel went down in 1999, so she’s had a couple of decades for the marine life to really make her home. You’ll find her draped in plumose anemones, and we always spot crabs tucked into every nook and cranny. The wheelhouse is still largely there, offering some nice swim-throughs if you’re comfortable with overhead environments, otherwise, circling the exterior reveals plenty. We’d suggest saving her for a day when the current is mild, as she can be exposed. She’s a great addition to a day out in Scapa, especially if you’ve already ticked off some of the bigger blockbusters.
Typical KAREN JANE Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (31m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
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 KAREN JANE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for KAREN JANE
KAREN JANE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for KAREN JANE, 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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