Wreck of SMS Seydlitz
Protected Area
Hoy
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 SMS Seydlitz offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The SMS Seydlitz, a German battlecruiser scuttled in Scapa Flow, offers a dive that’s less about intact grandeur and more about the sheer scale of its brokenness. We love how the strong currents, sometimes ripping through the Flow, have sculpted the wreck into a series of massive, jagged metal landscapes. Picture colossal sheets of hull plating, twisted gun turrets, and machinery strewn across the seabed. It’s a very different vibe from the more intact vessels here. Visibility can be a real game-changer; on a good day, you’ll get 10 metres or more, enough to appreciate the immense size of the wreckage. We’d suggest timing your dive for slack water, always. Otherwise, you’ll be fighting the flow rather than exploring. This site attracts divers who appreciate the raw power of a broken warship, with an added bonus of crabs and anemones clinging to the dark metal.
Typical Wreck of SMS Seydlitz Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 30m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
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.
Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of SMS Seydlitz
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Wreck of SMS Seydlitz
Wreck of SMS Seydlitz Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Wreck of SMS Seydlitz, 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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