Wreck of Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 102273 - Scapa Flow, Orkney

We’ll be honest, the official name “Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 102195” doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but don’t let that put you off. This wreck, nestled in the historic waters of Scapa Flow, is a proper dive, the kind where you feel the history pressing in around you. It’s not one of the grand German dreadnoughts, but that’s precisely why we love it. This is a working ship, a vessel with character, now beautifully reclaimed by the cold North Atlantic. Descending, you might find the visibility a bit variable – it’s Orkney, after all – but when it opens up, the silhouette of the wreck emerges from the green gloom. We’ve finned past lumpsuckers clinging to the plating, their rough skin contrasting with the smooth metal. Dulse and Irish moss drape parts of the structure, providing shelter for butterfish darting between the plates. Look closely for beadlet anemones, splashes of colour against the rusted steel. Exploring the holds, you get a sense of the ship’s function, now home to common sea stars and saithe. This wreck is for those who appreciate the quiet dignity of a forgotten vessel and the persistent beauty of marine life making a new home. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration, letting the atmosphere of Scapa Flow sink in.

Location: Scapa Flow, Orkney, United Kingdom, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 58.857807, -3.088525
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: Switha

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 102273

The Diving Cellar

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

Protestant (Clupea harengus) - Reef Fish
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) - Reef Fish
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
whiting (Merlangius merlangus) - Reef Fish
dab (Limanda limanda) - Reef Fish
harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) - Whales & Dolphins
grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
long rough dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) - Reef Fish
dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) - Reef Fish
poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
sprat (Sprattus sprattus) - Reef Fish
Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
Common dragonet (Callionymus lyra) - Reef Fish
lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
Common sea star (Asterias rubens) - Starfish
Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Wreck of Unnamed Shipwreck - Canmore 102273

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