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Wreck of Martin

The Martin is a different kind of dive in Scapa Flow. It’s not one of the mighty German battleships, but a smaller trawler, sunk deliberately in 1919 to block the eastern channel. This makes it an ideal introduction to Scapa’s wrecks, especially if you’re still getting comfortable with overhead environments or the often-chilly North Sea conditions. We love how intact the bow section remains, sitting upright, with the stern much more broken up, scattered across the seabed. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is the sheer volume of fish. Saithe hang in dense clouds, parting reluctantly as you fin through them. Look closer and you'll find jewel anemones, bursts of colour against the dull metal, along with common sea stars clinging to every surface. Inside the bow, we often spot a bull rout tucked away in a shadowy corner. Visibility here can be surprisingly good on an incoming tide, pushing in clear water from the open sea, making the penetration a little less intimidating. It’s a site that rewards a slow, methodical exploration, allowing you to really appreciate how nature reclaims these man-made structures.