WINCHESTER - Scapa Flow, Orkney

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.

Location: Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 58.466260, -5.084625
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 5m

Marine Protected Area: Oldshoremore and Sandwood

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to WINCHESTER

The Diving Cellar

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

Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for WINCHESTER

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