Scapa Flow is one of Britain's most historic stretches of water - located within the Orkney Islands, off the northeast coast of Scotland. Its sheltered waters have been used by ships since prehistory and it has played an important role in travel, trade and conflict throughout the centuries - especially during both World Wars.  

After the 1st World War armistice in 1918, seventy-four ships of the German High Seas Fleet were ordered into Scapa Flow to be interned. They arrived in November, and stayed there for 10 months.  By June 1919, Rear Admiral von Reuter, the German Officer in command at Scapa Flow, knew that Germany would have to accept surrender terms and he gave the order for the German fleet to be scuttled.

Most of the scuttled fleet did not stay where they had sunk. Those that were beached were removed almost immediately. In the 1920s, the firm Cox & Douglas began salvage operations, lifting many of the ships. This salvage continued until the advent of the Second World War, and only eight scuttled ships now remain in the Flow.

Diving was arranged with Scapa Flow Charters (from whom I've borrowed some of the information on their website) and we dived from the Sharon Rose (some couldn't even bear to part from her at night so slept on her).  Despite all predictions, the sea was flat every day, except one, and even the sun shone a couple of times so that skipper Kevin showed us his legs!

As well as the awesome wrecks, there was also plenty of marine life to keep the non-wreckies happy.  In the evenings there was the enjoyable social aspect (food, beer, chat) which is always an integral part of any BUDC holiday.  We even managed to drive around the island a bit and see some of the sites.