Although this web site is about diving on wrecks, this wreck is an exception but I think it should be included as it is probably the best wreck in Scapa. The Royal Oak is a war grave and should not be dived on by anyone. I feel quite strongly about this as this was the ship that my grandfather served on. The Oak is 600 foot in length and displaced 29000 tons, she was armed with 8 15" guns which were placed in 4 turrets and were capable of firing a 2000 pound shell more than 13 miles. On the 13th October 1939 she was lying at anchor within the protected waters of Scapa when a daring raid was carried out by a U-boat. The U- boat slammed several torpedoes in the side of the Oak and she sank within minutes with loss of more than 800 men.

The wreck today : Today the Royal Oak sits where she sank in 1939,her charted position is 58 55 50 N , 02 58 58 W. She lies in 30 metres of water and is up turned resting on her side. The least depth over her massive hull is 5 metres and on a clear day she is visible below the surface. She remains totally intact except for a few pieces that were removed by Navy divers. The ships bell can be found in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. Once a year the Royal Navy send down divers to unfold a white battle ensign which they connect to her stern as part of a service of remembrance.