wreck

Log This Dive

WINCHESTER

Winchester is a tricky one, and not what most people picture when they think of Scapa Flow. Forget the deep, intact German battleships. This is a shallow, broken drifter, sitting in maybe five metres of water, sometimes less. We’ve dived it when the visibility has been shockingly good, sunlight dappling through the kelp, making the rusted plates glow a deep orange. Other times, it's a gloomy affair, a real Orkney experience, where you’re practically feeling your way along. What we love about Winchester is its accessibility and how it feels like a secret garden. The wreck itself is pretty broken up, scattered across the rocky seabed west of Cava. You’ll find ribs poking out, plates twisted like abstract art, and the occasional length of chain. It’s not a penetration dive, not by a long shot. Instead, it’s a site for exploring the nooks and crannies, where small conger eels poke their heads from beneath collapsed sections and lobsters wave antennae from dark crevices. We’ve seen juvenile pollack darting through the kelp forest that grows thick here, and often a curious seal will pop by for a look, especially if you’re the only boat around. It’s perfect for less experienced divers or anyone who just wants a relaxed dive with a bit of history and plenty of life, without the Scapa Flow depth demands. Just pick a calm day; it can get surgey.