Wreck of Wanja
Protected Area
East Sanday Coast
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 Wanja offers some of Scapa Flow, Orkney's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 8-14°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Wanja, one of the smaller German High Seas Fleet scuttles, often gets overlooked in Scapa Flow, but that’s a mistake. We love her for her accessibility and how completely colonised she feels by the sea. She lies on her starboard side, just over 20 metres deep, with the superstructure offering plenty of swim-throughs if you're comfortable in overhead environments. You'll find saithe shoaling off the hull, and her internal spaces are thick with plumose anemones, their white tentacles swaying gently in the dim light. Look for little astarte clams tucked into crevices. This wreck is perfect for divers who appreciate the history but also want to feel truly immersed in an artificial reef, without the more demanding depths of her larger sisters.
Safety Notes
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.
Reviews for Wreck of Wanja
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Wreck of Wanja
Wreck of Wanja Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Wreck of Wanja, 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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