wreck

Log This Dive

Wreck of Tennessee

Diving the *Ronda* in Scapa Flow, you’re not just exploring a wreck, you're stepping into history. This German steamer, sunk in 1939, sits upright, her structure still remarkably intact. We love how the huge cargo holds gape open, inviting penetration, but even a circuit around the deck offers plenty of interest. Look for the massive propeller, often silhouetted against the ambient light filtering through the green water. Visibility can swing wildly here. On a good day, you'll feel the scale of the wreck, watching schools of juvenile pollack stream through the davits. Other times, it's an intimate, hands-on exploration, tracing the outline of portholes encrusted with dead man's fingers. The *Ronda* is a fantastic introduction to Scapa Flow for those wanting a deep wreck experience without the notorious currents of some of the bigger blockships. We’d suggest a dive light even on a bright day to really pick out the details – the coiled ropes, the collapsed mast, and the abundant plumose anemones clinging to every surface. Keep an eye out for the common sea stars slowly traversing the hull plates.