Stromness, Scotland, United Kingdom

SMS Dresden

SMS Dresden is a German Cologne-class light cruiser scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21 June 1919 with the rest of the interned High Seas Fleet. The 155-metre wreck lies on its port side at depths between roughly 22 and 38 metres, and is one of four cruisers commonly dived in the Flow. Highlights include the intact bow with anchor hawsepipes, the bridge superstructure, rangefinders, davits, several 15cm guns trained out from the casemates, and a heavily collapsed midships area where boilers and engines are visible. Visibility is typically 8 to 12 metres in summer, with water temperatures between 6 and 12 degrees Celsius all year. The hull is densely colonised by plumose anemones, dead man's fingers, hydroids and sponges. Resident species include wolffish, conger eels, ling, pollack, ballan wrasse and occasional grey seals. Currents are moderate and dives are run from Stromness charter boats during slack water. Dresden is suitable for advanced divers comfortable in cold water with drysuits and is typically paired with a Cologne or Karlsruhe dive on the same day.