Stafford at Scapa
I’ VE JUST RETURNED FROM LEADING A group from Stafford Sub Aqua Club on a week-long trip to Scapa Flow. Planning for the trip began in March 2025, securing the liveaboard Clasina( with skipper Bob Anderson) as our home for the week. We had 12 divers committing to the trip.
Some divers had visited previously, though generally not for a number of years and were interested to note how the wrecks had changed in that time.
The group included eight of the club’ s Open Water Instructors, a mix of Advanced Divers and Dive Leaders, and one very experienced Sports Diver, my 22-year-old son, bringing our average age down a little.
Having heard stories of poor viz and
terrible weather the previous week, we were blessed with the weather. Across six days we had 10-12m viz and were able to dive all three battleships – SMS König, SMS Markgraf, and SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm – as well as all four light cruisers – SMS Brummer, SMS Cöln, SMS Dresden, and SMS Karlsruhe. We returned to SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm for a second dive to ensure the group covered the main guns, casement gun run, spotting tower and the‘ plug holes’, the missing sea cocks.
In addition to the First World War German fleet, we also covered UB116, a WW1 sub sunk by shore activated sea mines in the Flow in 1918. There was also a visit to The F2 and nearby Barge YC21. We even managed a scenic / drift dive on the block ship Tabarka.
Our manoeuvres were not limited to the water, paying a visit to the Scapa Flow Museum at Lyness while on a surface interval. This is well worth planning in for any trip. Housed within a refurbished Romney hut and oil fuel pump house at the former Lyness royal naval base“ HMS Proserpine”, the museum charts the history of Orkney’ s involvement in both world wars. Some 144 dives were completed by the group across six days. Jacqui completed her 300th dive, Adrian his 200th and Andy his 100th dive of the year. Thanks go to the crew –- Bob, Lee and Ben – for looking after us. Needless to say we will be returning.
GREG ROUND, Stafford SAC
Back in time
WHAT TO DO ON A DAY WHEN SLACK water is at an inconvenient time? Southdown Divers organised by social secretary Fiona decided to check out the newly refurbished Gosport Diving Museum. Seventeen of us met one Saturday for a private viewing. Ages ranging from 14 to 17, plus Mabel the puppy.
The museum is housed in battery number two which was built around 1860 as part of the coastal fortifications, so two museums in one.
We were split into three groups to be shown around by divers enjoying voluntary work at the museum. Mike, an ex-army diver, showed my group around and told various stories, including the work of comedian Miranda Hart’ s dad and the sinking of HMS Edinburgh with her 431 bars of gold bullion, which was salvaged in 1981.
The museum was split into four sections, historic( fancy diving in a converted beer barrel anyone?), commercial( impressive plating, pincers and lack of mobility), military and recreational diving.
For those who feel that a museum visit isn’ t complete without touching everything, there is historic kit to try on. The weighted
boots were so heavy we could barely walk. Plus, recompression chambers outside to show what it’ s like for commercial divers.
A few smaller people got to have a turn in‘ the coffin’ and be pushed right in. Interesting reactions:“ No – let me out; I’ m not doing this; okay – I’ ve been in, let me out; yes – I’ m good with this lie-down for ten minutes while the guide talks.” To make the experience even more cosy, two people can theoretically be squeezed in; fortunately we didn’ t try that one.
All followed up by a sociable picnic on the beach and a swim for those who were desperate to get in the water. ANN PARKER, Treasurer, Southdown Divers
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