Scapa Flow

[cherrie_bec]

Hi I was wondering if anyone could give me some advise. I am really keen to do a few dives up in Scapa Flow this year before Sept. I have spoken with a few people and some say you cant dive it without a dry suit and some say you can.
I have dived in water temp of 17 degrees before in a 7mm wetsuit, I have read that Scapa is about 14 in Sept. is it possible for me to do this on Scappa?
Also does anyone know of some good dive companies that help out lonely divers? (I dont have a buddy).
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
bec

 

[verybaddiver]

It's quite difficult to get spaces on Scapa boats even a year before you want to dive there. So i doubt you can just do a 'book and pack' holiday, i know for one Hazel is booked up for '09 already on the MV Valkyrie. As far as a dry suit being the norm, i'm not really sure, but it does add an extra safety factor (redundant buoyancy). Scapa Scuba do courses up there, and probably do shore dives, as like i say, the boats will normally be full up.

Dive Scapa Flow Orkneys - Scapa Scuba

Steve

 

[String]

A lot does depend on your tolerance to cold and the dives you'll be doing. If doing the deeper dives you'll be colder due to the depth and longer dive time (deco etc) than sticking to the shallows.
There isn't a chance in hell id contemplate diving anywhere in the UK in a wetsuit at any time of year though.

As for a boat, lots are booked up a long time in advance but sometimes spare places come up and are advertised.

 

[Teddy_diver]

I have been up there a few times and never seen anyone in a wetsuit. I would never contemplate anything other than a dry suit.

 

[Hickdive]

I've seen one person dive in Scapa in a semi-dry for a week, they seemed to manage fine, they never complained of being cold and they did all the available dives, but we were on the Sunrise which has quite good drying facilities and, more importantly, a fully enclosed dive deck to keep them out of the weather.

I've never seen water temps as high as 14 deg C in Scapa, I was there a month ago and we were getting 11 degs.

Boats tend to book up very quickly, usually with pre-arranged groups of 12 and usually well in advance but I daresay Ben at Scapa Scuba will have his ear to the ground for boats with ad-hoc spaces or I think he does RIB trips. You could always arrange a drysuit course and rent a suit from him whilst there.

 

[flw]

The water is at itswarmest in sept,so yes you can dive in a semi - but you might well be chilled for the second dive,as it's unlikley to be very warm on the surface inbetween dives.
I go and dive scapa on my own fairly regularly - I just ring round the various boats and find one with spaces and jump on.
Look up the Orkney Dive Boat Association and you'll get the contact details of all the boats. Emily on Radiant Queen will often take smaller groups out.July/Aug there are often boats away to Shetland etc, so less to choose from,but it quietens off in Sept. Scapa scuba used to do escorted dives which would be well worth it for a short trip, as the wrecks are very big.
- If you just jump onboard,expect to be diving solo, the skipper won't buddy you up with anyone

F