UK DIVING
Oban and Mull, west Scotland
Set against some of Scotland’ s most beautiful coastal scenery, the area around Oban and the Isle of Mull is a regular on many a club’ s itinerary. Just outside the town of Oban there is the wreck of the Breda, the shallower portions of which can be visited by Ocean Divers. Sitting upright, it is possibly Scotland’ s most popular wreck dive, and there is plenty to see at deck level. Otherwise, the area leading up the Sound of Mull is thick with beautiful reefs and some of Scotland’ s best wrecks, though many of these are just beyond the 20m maximum limit. It’ s a good incentive to go for Sports Diver, the next qualification. Elsewhere, there is the Rondo, which sits on a sloping reef with its rudder and stern at 6-9m and the bow down below in the darkness, at 52m.
Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands
Scapa Flow is a natural harbour between the isles of Orkney, which has long been strategically important to the defence of Britain. At the conclusion of the First World War the German High Seas Fleet was interred there while the Armistice talks were ongoing, but on 21 June 1919 Rear Admiral Ludwig Von Reuter made the decision to scuttle the ships rather than let them fall into British hands. Several were salvaged, but what remains is a unique underwater museum of naval warfare in the early 20th Century. It is arguably the most significant wreck site in the UK, and although the depth range is mostly beyond Ocean Diver level, no list of British diving would be complete without mention of Scapa. With some of the best wrecks in the 20-35m range, it’ s another good motivator for your progression to Sports Diver.
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