SAN TIBURCIO
Protected Area
Tarbat Ness
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) - SAN TIBURCIO offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The San Tiburcio is a moody dive, a tanker broken in two by a mine in 1940. You drop onto a long, shadowy wreck at around 29 metres, the bow and stern sections separated by a debris field. The sheer scale of the tanker is the draw here, with huge open cargo holds now home to curious wrasse and crabs tucked into every crevice. We’d say it's a good one for divers with some wreck experience, comfortable with deeper profiles and the generally lower visibility Scapa Flow can offer.
Typical SAN TIBURCIO 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 29m - 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 SAN TIBURCIO
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for SAN TIBURCIO
SAN TIBURCIO Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for SAN TIBURCIO, 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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