OLIVE LEAF
Protected Area
Long Berry Coast
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) - OLIVE LEAF offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Olive Leaf isn't one of Scapa Flow’s celebrated German fleet wrecks, but for us, it's a brilliant example of what makes diving in these waters so compelling. This old fishing trawler, sunk in 1974 after striking Proudfoot Rocks, now lies upright at 25 metres. We love how complete she still feels. You can swim around her wheelhouse, peer into the holds, and really get a sense of her working life before the sea claimed her. The visibility here can be excellent, especially on an incoming tide, letting you appreciate the scale of the wreck. It's a proper playground for torch beams. Crabs scuttle in crevices, plumose anemones bloom on every surface, and inquisitive conger eels often peek out from behind bent metal. This is a dive for those who appreciate history etched into steel, and who enjoy the colder water challenge. It’s a site that rewards careful exploration, not just a quick swim-through.
Typical OLIVE LEAF Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 25m - Advanced Open Water 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 OLIVE LEAF
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for OLIVE LEAF
OLIVE LEAF Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for OLIVE LEAF, 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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