Diving Scapa Flow (Part 2) - SMS Karlsruhe
Diving Scapa Flow (Part 2) - SMS Karlsruhe
This is a pretty regular 'shake out' dive in Scapa Flow as its shallow and more broken up than some of the bigger ships, despite that, it's still one of my favourites. The shallowness means better light and a longer dive (the cold really is my limiting factor) and as I'm normally pretty navigationally challenged, the layout helps me actually find and identify bits.
SMS or Seiner Majestät Schiff (His majesties ship) Karlsruhe is a Königsberg class light cruiser, launched in 1916. She really didn’t see much action. She was involved in Project Albion against Russian forces in the Baltics and some other minor operations before being interred and sunk in Scapa Flow in 1919.
The highlights of my first dive on her are usually the same as every other dive (navigationally challenged!) seeing some of the guns and the armoured control. These ships had a bridge where ship control was usually handled but when under fire officers could continue fighting operations from a heavily armoured 'citadel' on deck. This is the armoured control.
Near by is one of the forward guns;
Then continuing down the ship, past the boilers to another 5.9 inch gun that’s buried under a plate of which the breach of the gun is more visible.
An excellent start to a week diving the 'Flow. With calm and still conditions topside as well. Air diluent and a nice hour long dive (too cold to go longer).