1/28/2023 0 Comments Are zotz bad for youIt was from this well guarded naval base that the Grand Fleet sailed in May 1916 to engage in battle with the German High Seas Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Old merchant ships were also sunk as blockships to prevent access through the channels. Coast defence batteries were built and boom defences, including anti-submarine nets, were stretched over the entrances to prevent enemy vessels from penetrating Scapa Flow. World War IĪt the outbreak of World War I defences were put in place to guard the Grand Fleet in its new home. If the Admiralty were to rely on the Firth of Forth further south, there was a real risk their ships could be trapped if a minefield was placed across its mouth. Scapa Flow was ideally situated to provide a safe anchorage in the north with easy access to open waters. This time it was to defend against a new enemy: Germany. However, by the early 20th century the Admiralty once again looked at Scapa Flow. Subsequent wars were waged against countries including France, Spain and the Netherlands – as such a northern naval base became unnecessary. Two Martello Towers were built on either side of Longhope in order to defend these trading ships until a warship arrived to escort them to the Baltic Sea. The Admiralty used the area as a deep water anchorage for trading ships waiting to cross the North Sea to Baltic ports. However, it wasn’t until the Napoleonic wars of the early 1800s that the Admiralty first took an interest in Scapa Flow. Scapa Flow has been used as a harbour since Viking times, the name Skalpaflói being given to it by the Vikings. The name Scapa Flow comes from the Old Norse Skalpaflói, meaning ‘bay of the long isthmus’, which refers to the thin strip of land between Scapa Bay and the town of Kirkwall. Some of the wrecks we will be visiting are: SMS Markgraf, SMS Kronprinz Willhelm, SMS König, SMS Brummer, SMS Dresden, SMS Cöln, SMS Karlsruhe, and more. We will be diving “The Big Seven” with 12 Technical CCR dives spread over 6 diving days. Water temperaturs are expected between 6 – 10C (38-48F). The wrecks are at depths that will allow two long dives per day. Maximum depths to the seabed is around 44m. The stricken cruisers on their sides, their superstructures slowly falling to the seabed after nearly 100 years underwater.Īll of the WWI German wrecks lie approximately 50 minutes from the port of Stromness. Their legacy is some of the best scuba diving in the world, the behemoths of the battleships rising from 45m to 22m, guns pointing into the green, seemingly on eternal patrol. The remains of the German fleet still lie in the flow, heavily protected from any sort of salvage or interference by divers. Scapa Flow is one of the jewels in the crown of UK scuba diving. Lamar and Jared Hires from Dive Rite will be our special guests for this once in a lifetime trip to dive some rusted metal! Join us on an incredible adventure to dive the German Fleet wrecks of Scapa Flow.
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