Wreck of Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 101852 - Scapa Flow, Orkney

Alright, let's talk Scapa Flow. While everyone raves about the German High Seas Fleet, and rightly so, we often find ourselves drawn to the less celebrated, but equally compelling, 'Unnamed Shipwreck', or Canmore 102190 as the archaeologists call it. This isn't a destroyer, it's something older, perhaps a trawler or a smaller cargo vessel, lost long before the World Wars. Dropping down, the wreck emerges from the gloom, typically around 15-20 meters, though depths can vary with the tide. What we love about this wreck is its skeletal nature. The wooden hull has long since disintegrated, leaving behind the ribs and frames, a ghostly outline on the seabed. It feels like diving a giant fossil. Light filters through these gaps, illuminating the soft corals and anemones that cling to every remaining surface. You'll often find Common Gobies darting between the timbers and tiny Risso's Crabs scuttling into crevices. It’s a photographer's dream for wide-angle shots showing the structure against the Scapa Flow silty bottom. Our favourite time to dive it is on an incoming tide when visibility is often at its best, and the water has that characteristic emerald hue. Keep an eye out for inquisitive Common Eiders overhead if you surface slowly – they’re everywhere here.

Location
Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
57.641422, -1.558659
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Loch of Strathbeg

Best Time to Dive in Scapa Flow, Orkney

The warmest water temperatures in Scapa Flow, Orkney occur in January, averaging 8.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 8.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 8.4°C (air: 5.5°C)
  • February: 8.4°C (air: 5.3°C)
  • March: 8.4°C (air: 5.9°C)
  • April: 8.4°C (air: 6.8°C)
  • May: 8.4°C (air: 9.7°C)
  • June: 8.4°C (air: 12.4°C)
  • July: 8.4°C (air: 13.2°C)
  • August: 8.4°C (air: 13.7°C)
  • September: 8.4°C (air: 12.7°C)
  • October: 8.4°C (air: 10.2°C)
  • November: 8.4°C (air: 8.0°C)
  • December: 8.4°C (air: 5.8°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 101852

Marine Life in Scapa Flow, Orkney

Home to 155 recorded species including 63 reef fish, 17 whales & dolphins, 12 sharks & rays, 11 crabs & lobsters, 11 other, 10 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Wreck of Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 101852

Based on average water temperature of 8.4°C.

  • Drysuit - water at 8°C demands a drysuit with thermal undergarments
  • Hood & Gloves (7mm+) - critical to prevent heat loss
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories