wreck

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Wreck of Baradrangur

The *Baradrangur* isn’t one of Scapa’s big German battleships, and for some, that’s exactly its appeal. This blockade runner, sunk in the early days of WWII, sits upright on the seabed, a little over 20 metres down. We love the way its superstructure has collapsed in places, creating these brilliant swim-throughs, tight but manageable, perfect for a bit of torch exploration. You’ll find walls thick with plumose anemones, their white tentacles reaching out like soft, alien flowers in the murkier corners, and often, we spot lobsters tucked into any crevice that offers shelter. Visibility here can be a bit of a mixed bag; we’ve had days of 15 metres and days where it’s felt like diving in pea soup, but even then, the wreck’s compact size means you never feel lost. It’s a fantastic dive for those who appreciate history without the overwhelming scale of the larger Scapa wrecks, giving you a chance to slow down, really examine the details, and perhaps imagine the cargo she was trying to smuggle. Our advice: pick a slack tide for the easiest dive and keep an eye out for inquisitive conger eels.