Definitive Scapa: Overview

[BobAnderson]

Definitive Scapa

It seems about time to do a "definitive Scapa Flow" thread as there are a lot of questions that a seeming to crop up time and time again so hopefully if we can collate all the common questions, misapprehensions and dispel any hurdy gurdy nonsense all in one place, then so much the better.

What is this thread?

Hopefully it will be a reasonably comprehensive FAQ, hints, do's and don'ts and advice from those that have either been before or who work here..

What is it not?

Please don't swamp the thread with a load of "I loved the GoodShipLollyPop", "I loved her too", "yeah, me 'n all" as, whilst I appreciate you may have a favorite, something a bit more objective would be more useful.

So anyway, here goes...

[BobAnderson]

Definitive Scapa: What kit do I need?

My answer is to bring the kit you have now..

Don't by a whole load of new kit that will take all week to learn how to use.

Don't bring all newly serviced kit that hasn't had a test run before it gets here. By all means get it serviced in good time but take it for a dive first: you would be horrified the number of time a first dive goes to ratshit through kit malfunction and the refrain is "but I just had it serviced.."

Take advantage of any kit supplied: I include 15l and 12l cylinders in the charter price. This can save you bringing up your own stuff, maybe making it a viable option to fly, for example..

Likewise, I have plenty of lead on the boat: 12 weightbelts add a lot to a van load.

Ask the skipper before you travel and they can let you know what is available.

A single cylinder is more than adequate for 90% of the dives here: most of the continental groups quite happily tackle even the battleships safely with a single and octopus rig.

Having said that, a redundant air source is beneficial, though even then a pony more than covers that base.

A twin set covers the options but is far from a prerequisite for diving here. Definitly don't get a twinset specifically for Scapa, assemble it for the first time on sunday morning and then wonder why you are not getting the best from the week.

The trick is "horses for courses". I have seen people in 18m on the F2 with 2x15l and two 12l stages: clearly ludicrous but equally f@ing about in 60m on the Strathgary with a single 10 is daft. Adapt your kit and diving to your comfort zone and stay safe: adding more kit doesn't in itself guarantee safeness.

I would advise against doing courses while you are here: it detracts from your time spent looking at the wrecks. Having said that, Scapa is the perfect place for doing a course so maybe I should modify that statement to not doing a course if you are here for the wrecks and not the diving... (if that makes sense?)

I think that's what I am trying to say: Scapa is about the wrecks not about the diving. If you went walking in the hills on a slightly more committed route than normal, you would want an old worn in, comfy pair of boots that you knew well. Do the same with your dive kit.

[west coast diver]

Hi Bob,

My top tip would be to seriously consider a weak nitrox mix instead of switching to a deco bottle as we found it made a considerable difference to hang time (10 -15 mins on some dives) and after a weeks diving you really appreciate getting back on the boat quicker for a cup of tea.

The only drawback with this advice is to be prepared for a hefty 02 bill at the end of the week, something which most people overlook IMO.

Oh, and please feel free to abuse Grigor in our abscence :>)

W.C.D.

P.S.

Some people may be unaware of this, but the easiest wat to get kit on the boats is to put it in one of the wheeled metal containers from the ferry and just push it round to the harbour (about 200 yards)
Theres no point in paying for your car needlessly when you dont have to.

Also, for some people thinking of taking their car anyway you will have very little daylight hours (if any) left after a days diving (in the winter) so it's not really worth the expense.

Definitive Scapa: What kit do I need?

My answer is to bring the kit you have now..

Don't by a whole load of new kit that will take all week to learn how to use.

Don't bring all newly serviced kit that hasn't had a test run before it gets here. By all means get it serviced in good time but take it for a dive first: you would be horrified the number of time a first dive goes to ratshit through kit malfunction and the refrain is "but I just had it serviced.."

Take advantage of any kit supplied: I include 15l and 12l cylinders in the charter price. This can save you bringing up your own stuff, maybe making it a viable option to fly, for example..

Likewise, I have plenty of lead on the boat: 12 weightbelts add a lot to a van load.

Ask the skipper before you travel and they can let you know what is available.

A single cylinder is more than adequate for 90% of the dives here: most of the continental groups quite happily tackle even the battleships safely with a single and octopus rig.

Having said that, a redundant air source is beneficial, though even then a pony more than covers that base.

A twin set covers the options but is far from a prerequisite for diving here. Definitly don't get a twinset specifically for Scapa, assemble it for the first time on sunday morning and then wonder why you are not getting the best from the week.

The trick is "horses for courses". I have seen people in 18m on the F2 with 2x15l and two 12l stages: clearly ludicrous but equally f@ing about in 60m on the Strathgary with a single 10 is daft. Adapt your kit and diving to your comfort zone and stay safe: adding more kit doesn't in itself guarantee safeness.

I would advise against doing courses while you are here: it detracts from your time spent looking at the wrecks. Having said that, Scapa is the perfect place for doing a course so maybe I should modify that statement to not doing a course if you are here for the wrecks and not the diving... (if that makes sense?)

I think that's what I am trying to say: Scapa is about the wrecks not about the diving. If you went walking in the hills on a slightly more committed route than normal, you would want an old worn in, comfy pair of boots that you knew well. Do the same with your dive kit.

[BobAnderson]

Definitive Scapa: which boat?

This is the thousand dollar question and , if I am to stick my head above the parapet, it usually elicits the answer "Valkyrie" on this forum.

I am not about to malign a colleague or comment on her operation. She may well be your favorite boat and I don't doubt you had a fantastic week, but equally there are a range of other boats that you weren't out on and are worthy of consideration too. She is a good boat among many good boats here in scapa.

So which one to choose?

1 Availability

If you have not been before, I would guess the options would be narrowed down quite swiftly by availability. If the week isn't free, you're not gonna get on the boat. Regulars will have their slot so this becomes less relevant over time and subsequent visits but availability is high up among the decision making factors.

2 Cost

There are a range of prices charged between the boats: the cheapest is not necessarily the best and the most expensive may not offer the most luxury. However, look at the price structure: my head is mince so I try and include as much in the charter price as possible whilst others itemise things more. But make sure you have the total price.. Most will offer an incentive for whole boat charter vs a per head rate to reflect the lesser risk and administrative burden.

3 Skipper

Our relationship over the week is important: I try my hardest with everybody but some folk are beyond salvation. And there are a few of you who would say the same about me! You will get a sense very early on in the booking process what the skipper is like to deal with and your instinct will likely be right. At the end of the day, if you don't get on, it's gonna be hard work.

Things that you may consider important in a skipper:

Is he/she a diver? Has he dived the wrecks? Is he still diving the wrecks? What is their pedigree? what are their interests? Are they a serious operator or just a piss head? Are they good with the boat? Do they own their boat or skipper for someone else? Do you actually like them? If not do you respect their abilities enough to trust them to pick you up again?

The answers are for you to consider and weigh for importance.. what is important to you will not necessarily figure for me.

4 Word of mouth

Speaks for itself really.. get a balanced opinion for sure but the word of your predecessors speaks volumes. And YD is a good, though not the only source.

This should maybe listed first in importance..?

5 Legality

The boat must be coded with the MCA in order to operate legally. Check on
the MCA website

MCA - Home

but the MCA are quite poor at maintaining the index so a no show is not a guarantee of non compliance. There should be a valid sticker on display in the wheelhouse (similar to a car tax disk) or just ask.

If the boat is not coded, report the fucker.

6 Other considerations:

day boat/liveaboard
level of catering: self, half or full board
quality of briefing/info supplied
size
lift vs ladder
standard of accommodation: ratio males/females in party and who can share a cabin with who, for eg
emergency oxygen aboard

At the end of the day consider the whole thing as a dance. Some people are just going to tread on each others toes however hard they try but if you find someone you can trip the light fantastic with, then hang on and enjoy the song!!

So, yes Hazel is fantastic. And please tell the rest of YD about her. Just remember that there are a whole lot of other operators out there too who may be just right for you too so tell the world about them as well. There is an importance in the collective opinion here on YD that is about more than the Emperor's new clothes and actually imparting solid well tested advice.

[Woz]

My top tips would be:

Dive nitrox all week. Rich mix in the afternoon with an air top for the next morning makes it cheaper.
Beg, borrow or rent a scooter for the battleships. Brilliant fun.
Take spares between you in your group. Something inevitably will break/get lost.
Make sure you are confident firing a DSMB.
Try to visit the stoneage stuff at Maes Howe/Skara Brae/Brodgar.

[BobAnderson]

Definitive Scapa: preparation

1. Go diving before you get here: be ready to hit the ground running, be dive fit and know your kit works. Don't send the first day sorting out your buoyancy: that's two dives gone...

2. Do your homework. Read Rod Macdonald's Dive Scapa Flow at the very least.

Great British Shipwrecks

There are increasing numbers of books about diving the Flow but this stalwart still covers all the bases.

3. Scour the internet for info on the wrecks and on Orkney.

The more you know before hand the more you will see when you get here..

4 Be rested and fit and ready for the pysiological trial your body is about to embark upon. A week in the Flow can be hard work: do a little exercise in preparation.

5 Book stuff early. Those containers on the ferry can disappear fast...!

[BobAnderson]

Definitive Scapa: on arrival

1 Talk to the skipper! Highlight any concerns or factors for consideration from the get go and then they don't become sore points when they arise from the blue.

2 Have an idea of a plan for the week but don't be too prescriptive. For example, many people want an early finish on a friday as they fly saturday. Work toward this from the start.

3 Have an idea of tides. If you want blockships, then spring tides with HW mid afternoon are not the best weeks but for the German stuff, they are of little consequence.

4 Half day? Perish the though to plan for a half day but to be frank it will let your computer clear (not to mention your physiology!) and allow you to see a bit of Orkney.

5 Relax! Go for a recce. Orkney is a jewel of an island well worth an explore. There is life beyond the Ferry Inn!

[flw]

I've dived on most of the boats over the years, and whilst I have my favorites they've all been fine to dive from - and I'm happy to dive from them with my kids these days
- add a couple of bits - I'm often in Scrabster on a saturday morning and it's hughly entertaining watching the aggro which goes with transferring kit to a container from a hired van - having a car accross in Stromness avoids this and gives access to explore the rest of Orkney in the long summer evenings if based in Stromness - there's heaps to do and see outwith the immediate area - and divided up the ferry isn't that expensive - Gill's bay is only £60 return for the car
The other is if the skipper suggests a particular wreck, then there's probably a good reason for it, 'specially if he/she is erring on the shallower side. Just go with what they suggest and you'll almost certainly have a great time.
I'm diving in about 3 weeks for a couple of days, and I've not a clue which boat I'm on, and it doesn't much matter

[Stesh]

Try to visit the stoneage stuff at Maes Howe/Skara Brae/Brodgar.

Also some of the First & Second World War ruins are well worth at look at well

Balfour Battery, Orkney, 04.09 - Derelict Places

A good waterproof coat is advisable as well as it can rain all the time your there, like I had the misfortune to have the first time I went.

Taking your car (or a bike) across is a must if you wish to see more of the Islands than just the pubs in Stromness

[BobAnderson]

Definitive Scapa: required gear.

1 SMB

Every diver should carry an SMB and be capable of a mid water deployment. If you can't deploy an SMB then you need to go practice untill you are adept. Your SMB should be self closing, marked with something distinctive (like your name and not "its me"!) and be deployed with a reel. Short 10m lengths of drop line, a la continental style don't really cut the mustard.

Yellow SMBs don't raise alarms here: too many people use them routinely. Discuss with your skipper if thats your signal.

Two tone SMBs are a pain in the arse. There is another thread somewhere about this.

www.yorkshire-divers.com/forums/dsmb-colour.html


2. Shot lines

You have two choices on ascent: the shot line or an SMB. Unmarked, free ascents will be noted by a bollocking from your skipper as it takes ages to unwrap an ignorant diver from the propeller and can incur a not inconsequential bill from the ship yard to remove some of the smaller shards of bone.

Be courteous. Nobody has priority and the chances are that if you think there is someone blocking the way, it's you.

Don't jump until told. Although funny, it's a right pain in the arse to go pick up someone who has jumped off randomly enroute to the wreck. Likewise, if there is tide you will likely be the wrong side of the shot making hard work for yourself if you jump early.

DO NOT HANG ON TO THE SHOT WHEN THE BOAT COMES TO GET YOU! If the boat drifts over, or catches the shot, it will upset all the divers on the line below besides the obvious hazards with props etc. Just let go as the boat approaches and drift clear. Most boats here draw around 3m: guess what your mates are doing at 3m? Props and divers are not the best of bedfellows.

The shot line is a guide not part of your buoyancy requirements. As a simple test, ask yourself what would happen if you let go at that particular moment. If the answer involves either an "up" or "down", something is amiss. Temporary extra buoys are frequently attached to the shot line to stop the existing buoys disappearing under the water; if you regards this as basically your skipper saying "your buoyancy control is utter shite but I will work around it because you are a customer and customers are always right" in not so many words, then you as well to blush with shame!!

3 Suit

A dry suit is a must really, Ok, you can get away with a semi dry but I bet you won't do all the dives in a week and you won't really enjoy them. If you are not serious enough to buy a dry suit are you serious enough to do the diving here..?

4 Compass

So, 26,000 tons of German steel makes a blip in the earths magnetic field: is it worth taking a compass? The answer is yes as you can get enough of an indication of orientation just to sort out your head if you get confused in which direction to head. If you have an idea of the orientation of the wrecks beforehand this information can be invaluable, especially if you are on the dark side of a battleship wondering how to get out of the mess!