SHORE DIVING AT THE CHURCHILL BARRIER BLOCKSHIPS
The Blockships at the Churchill Barriers provide the best shore diving sites(as far as wrecks are concerned) in Orkney. The Blockships were sunk during WWI & WWII to close channels created between the four south Islands. If left open, access to the Grand British Fleet anchored in Scapa Flow would be effortless. At the time it was thought the Blockships would give sufficient protection to the British Fleet. Yet on October 14th 1939 they were proved inadequate. On this fatal night, a German U boat managed to squeeze between the Blockships sunk in Kirk Sound. The result was the tragic loss of over 800 lives when the Royal Oak was torpedoed.

In response to this tragedy, Sir Winston Churchill commissioned the building of the Churchill Barriers to effectively block the channels. Italian Prisoners of War (held captive in Orkney) built the barriers. It took 4-5 years to complete the building of the barriers, by which time the war was over.

After the Second World War a number of the Blockships were heavily salvaged or removed, yet the majority remain on the seabed in some form or another. Unwittingly, Churchill had given us a series of ideal wreck diving sites within easy swimming distance from the shore! Further to this the Barriers have prevented fast tidal currents that previously raced between the islands and give the dive sites excellent protection from the weather.

Of the four barriers, the best and most accessible wreck dives are at the second and the third Barriers.

On the second barrier, nine wrecks remain. Of these, the Lycia, Ilsenstein and Cape Ortegal are the most enjoyable dives. All 3 are Single Screw Steel Steamers sunk in 1940 to a maximum depth of 12m. They were sunk in order to replace or reinforce the original Blockships sunk in WWI. The seabed here is sandy and visibility superb with Pollack, Cod, Anemones and Crabs frequently sighted.

At the third barrier, the three wrecks, the Empire Seaman, Martis and Gartshore are all Single Screw Steel Steamers lying in water a maximum depth of 12m. The Empire Seaman is possibly the most enjoyable to dive of all the barrier Blockships. She remains relatively intact and as such provides numerous swim throughs and points of interest. The Martis is in similar condition to the Empire Seaman supporting a vast range of sea life. The Gartshore is a Blockship from WWI, she is very broken up yet the propeller, rudder and prop shaft can still be distinguished.

All the wrecks provide homes and shelter for copious numbers of animals and plants. Fish such as Saith, Pollack, Wrasse, Cod and Ling are in abundance as are numerous other species including anemones, starfish and sea urchins. Birds are frequently seen diving for prey items, 'flying' past you underwater, and seals occasionally 'play' amongst the wreckage.

Diving at the Churchill Barrier Blockships is for everyone!

Before diving in Scapa Flow, it is necessary for any qualified diver who has no dry suit experience to practise in the shallow water at the Churchill Barriers. This allows you to observe and rehearse the techniques necessary for dry suit diving making you confident and comfortable in a dry suit. Scapa Scuba highly recommends the PADI Dry suit Specialty course. This course includes one Confined Water training session and two Open Water dives. After completing the course you will be competent in a dry suit and earn a certification card to prove it! Following this course, Scapa Flow is more accessible to you, as are the other Speciality courses offered by Scapa Scuba

Guided shore dives:
Scapa Scuba offer Guided dives on the wrecks at the Churchill Barriers daily.
Cost - £100 for two dives fully inclusive of transport, equipment hire and basic dry suit tuition.
Pre-requisite: PADI Open Water or equivalent.
No previous dry suit experience necessary.

GUIDED DIVES IN SCAPA FLOW - The Best Wreck Site in Europe!