Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy
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) - Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Prinzessin Victoria Luise wreck in Jardines de la Reina is a real journey back in time. We love diving this site early, before the sun gets too high, when the light filters down through the water just so, illuminating the ghostly outline of the old German passenger ship. It lies pretty broken up now, a testament to the century it’s spent on the seabed, but that just means more nooks and crannies to explore. You’ll find huge schools of grunts and cardinalfish sheltering inside the larger sections, their silver scales glinting in the gloom. Look closely for the planehead filefish camouflaged against the encrusted metal. Our favourite part has to be tracing the outline of the stern, imagining the ship in its former glory. It's not a deep dive, making it accessible for most, but the sheer historical weight and the way the reef has reclaimed it makes it a standout for us. Keep an eye out for the resident angelfish, they’re surprisingly bold here.
Typical Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
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.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Reviews for Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy
Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Wreck of A4 Mooring Buoy, 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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