SOVEREIGN
Protected Area
Wester Ross
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) - SOVEREIGN offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Sovereign, a trawler that went down in 1995, sits upright and largely intact in the shallows of Scapa Flow. At just a few metres deep, it's an easy dive, often used for training or as a second dive when the weather makes deeper wrecks tricky. You’ll find the wheelhouse and much of the superstructure still recognisable, draped in kelp and alive with small crabs and blennies. It’s a good spot for newer wreck divers to get a feel for penetration, with accessible holds, but even experienced divers enjoy the relaxed pace and surprisingly dense coverage of anemones and sponges on the decks.
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.
Reviews for SOVEREIGN
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for SOVEREIGN
SOVEREIGN Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for SOVEREIGN, 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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