Some of the Others

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17. F2.  World War II German escort vessel.  Displaced 790 tons and measured 249 feet (82 metres) in length.  A Second World War prize, she sank at her moorings in 1946.  Lying in 16-20 metres of water, she is a popular second dive.  Her bow section to aft of the bridge is intact and in good condition, and access can be made to holds.  The bow turret and gun are still in place, and the breach and inner workings can be seen.  Her stern section has been heavily blasted during salvage operations.

18. YC21 (Barge).  550-ton wooden barge, which was being used in salvage operations on the F2.  Sank in a storm in 1968.  Lying just off the F2 in 16-20 metres, the barge sits upright on a silty bottom in 18 metres of water.  In her holds can be found one of the F2's anti-aircraft guns, as well as generators, compressors and oxy-acetylene cylinders.  Access to her workshops and holds can be gained through open hatchways on the deck, and a large hole in her bows.  Conger eels and edible crabs can be found in crevices, and scallops can be found on the surrounding seabed. 

19. HMS Rodean A fleet minesweeper, which sank in 1915 after hitting a mine.  Lying in 13-17 metres of water on a muddy bottom and the wreckage is covered in a fine layer of silt.  Blasted in the 1950's to increase clearance over her, she is well broken up.

20. James Barrie A 666-ton Icelandic trawler, which sank in 1969.  She now lies in 38-42 metres of water on her starboard side on a cobble bottom.  With visibility often in the region of 30m, she makes an excellent dive.  Fierce tides run through Hoxa Sound so she can only be dived on slack tides.  Her depth and the tidal conditions mean she is not a dive for the inexperienced.

21. Strathgary.  An ex-boom defence vessel, she lies in Hoxa Sound in 55-58 metres of water with the least depth over her about 52 metres.  Again, not a dive for the inexperienced.

22. UB116 German World War I Submarine sank in Hoxa Sound while trying to enter Scapa Flow.  She displaced 516 tons on the surface and 641 tons submerged.  Blown up by the Royal Navy in 1975, she is well broken up.  She lies in 27-31 metres.

23.  The Bottle Dive (Gutter Sound).  Lyness was the base for the Atlantic and Home Fleets during two world wars, and a great many ships have lain at anchor in Gutter Sound.  Sailors then, were much the same as today, and any unwanted rubbish or broken equipment would be thrown overboard.  What was rubbish then, can be treasure to today’s divers.  The silty bottom of Gutter Sound can produce a variety of old bottles, plates, cups, shell cases, ginger beer bottles, shaving cream pots and more.  Much of it is often thrown back for the next diver, but the odd prized item can be found.  Gutter Sound has an average depth of 18 metres.

23. Thames.  A 1.327-ton single-screw steamer.  She was sunk in Kirk Sound in 1914 and now lies to the west of the 1st Churchill Barrier in 12-18 metres of water.  The Royal Navy removed her superstructure and stern section, but her hull and other sections of wreckage remain.

24. Churchill Barrier Blockships.  Other blockships that can be dived include the Empire Seaman and the Martis.  Both lie in East Weddel Sound, in 8-15 metres of water.  Only the midships sections of both wrecks remain.

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