SOLAN
Protected Area
North Caithness Cliffs
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) - SOLAN offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Solan is a good first wreck dive in Scapa Flow, especially if you’re looking for something accessible. This trawler went aground at Murkle Head in 1995, and now sits at about 0m, making it a dive for calm conditions. You’ll find the wreck relatively intact, a nice size at 25.9m long, and it's quickly become home to crabs, wrasse, and plenty of anemones. It’s a gentle introduction to wreck diving in Orkney’s famous waters, a chance to get your fins wet without the deeper currents of the German fleet.
Safety Notes
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to SOLAN
Dive shops near SOLAN
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for SOLAN
SOLAN Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for SOLAN, 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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