UB 116 - Scapa Flow, Orkney

Okay, so you’re in Scapa Flow, and honestly, we think the UB 116 is often overlooked for the bigger German fleet. That’s a mistake. This U-boat, sunk in 1918 by a mine, sits upright at 26 metres, largely intact. You drop down, and the whole outline of the submarine is just there. What we love about the UB 116 is the immediate sense of its history. You can clearly make out the conning tower, the torpedo tubes, even the periscopes are still there, albeit collapsed. It’s like a time capsule, frozen mid-patrol. We always spend time exploring the bow section, where the mine hit. The damage is still stark, a jagged tear in the steel. Inside the hull, we’ve found decent-sized cod and lumpsuckers tucked away, making homes in the twisted metal. We’d suggest going at slack water, obviously, as the currents here can really rip. Visibility can vary, but even on a greener day, the wreck’s compact size means you never lose sight of it, and the structure itself provides plenty of detail to focus on. It’s a fantastic dive for anyone keen on wreck history, offering a real sense of a vessel caught in the moment of its demise, and it's less crowded than some of the bigger ships.

Location
Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
58.834583, -3.069926
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
26m

Marine Protected Area: Switha

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 UB 116

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 UB 116

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