
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm
Scapa Flow · United Kingdom
The last König class dreadnought built for the German Imperial Navy lies inverted on the sandy floor of Gutter Sound, scuttled alongside the entire High Seas Fleet on 21 June 1919. At 146 metres long with a 28-metre beam, Kronprinz Wilhelm is the most accessible of Scapa Flow's three remaining battleships: the hull rises to 12 metres, well within recreational limits. The defining feature lies deeper — five 30.5cm casemate guns protrude from the port bow section at 25-35 metres, the most visible main armament of any Scapa wreck. Every hollow and overhang shelters conger eels, European lobster, edible crab, and thick colonies of dead man's fingers coral and plumose anemones.
Conditions
Depth
12 to 40 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
12 to 20 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 14°C
Drysuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Vis (m) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 6 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Pollock
Last confirmed May 5, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Conger Eel
Last confirmed May 5, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
European Lobster
Last confirmed May 5, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Edible Crab
Last confirmed Apr 8, 2026 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Dead Man's Fingers
Last confirmed May 31, 2026 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Plumose Anemone
Last confirmed May 5, 2025 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Velvet Swimming Crab
Last confirmed Jun 21, 2026 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
King Scallop
Last confirmed Jun 1, 2026 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear
Basic kit
For this site
- Drysuit · Water temperatures of 7–14°C year-round make a drysuit essential for any dive of meaningful duration.
- Surface marker buoy (SMB) · Open-water ascents in a busy anchorage require a highly visible SMB for boat traffic safety.
- Torch · Penetration into casemate gun turrets and interior spaces requires a primary dive light.