Stromness, Scotland, United Kingdom

F2 Destroyer Wreck

The F2 is a German Type F escort vessel that sank in Scapa Flow during a storm in 1946 while awaiting disposal as a war prize. The wreck sits upright on a sandy bottom at around 18 metres in Gutter Sound, just off Lyness, with the deck around 12 metres. It is paired with the wreck of YC21, a salvage barge that capsized while working on the F2 and now lies adjacent at similar depth. Together they form one of the easier and most popular wrecks in Scapa, ideal for AOWD-level divers. Penetration is possible into the open holds of YC21 and into clearly defined sections of F2, where engine blocks, deck guns, gun mounts, and ammunition are still visible. Visibility typically reaches 8 to 12 metres in summer, and water temperatures range between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius. Thick plumose anemone colonies blanket the structure, and pollack, ballan wrasse, ling, conger eels and curious grey seals are commonly seen. Currents are weak and dives run year-round from Stromness or Houton charter boats.