NOREEN MARY - Scapa Flow, Orkney

The *Noreen Mary* isn't one of Scapa's colossal German warships, and that's precisely why we love her. Lying at 50 metres, this trawler offers a very different, more intimate wreck diving experience. She went down in 1944, sunk by U-247, and now rests upright, her stern section largely intact, though the bow took a beating. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale of the fishing gear still draped across her. Trawl boards, wires, and nets lie like ghostly reminders of her working life. Our favourite part is the engine room, surprisingly open, allowing a good penetration if you're comfortable with the depth and overhead environment. We’ve found conger eels here, tucked into crevices, their heads poking out with a wary glance. The general deck area is home to plenty of squat lobsters, and the superstructure is covered in dead man's fingers, their soft white polyps swaying gently in the slight current. It's a sombre, reflective dive, feeling the history of a civilian vessel lost to war, rather than the more dramatic military might of the High Seas Fleet. We'd suggest saving this one for a calm day; the deeper sections can get quite dark, and good visibility really helps appreciate the details.

Location
Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
58.499584, -5.384587
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
50m

Marine Protected Area: Oldshoremore and Sandwood

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 NOREEN MARY

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 NOREEN MARY

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