Steamship · 1888–1914 · Orkney, United Kingdom
The SS Elton, a British steamship, is notable for her use as a blockship in Scapa Flow, where she was deliberately scuttled in 1914. Built in 1888 by Gray William & Co., Ltd., she measured 91.4 metres in length and had a beam of 11.8 metres. Acquired by the Admiralty, she was sunk in Skerry Sound, where she rolled over and broke her back.
Today, only three sections of the wreck are accessible to divers, best reached by boat. These sections include the bow, a propeller shaft tunnel, and the stern. The bow section stands about 2 metres above the seabed, while the propeller shaft tunnel features an open door and is partially buried. The stern section is intermingled with the remains of another vessel, the SS Teeswood.
Despite her fragmented state, the SS Elton remains a point of interest for those exploring the waters of Scapa Flow.
7 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Built 1888 by Gray William & Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool; 26 years in service. Lost October 3rd, 1914, scuttled.
A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
No published depth has been found for this wreck.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water temp | 6° | 6.5° | 7° | 8° | 9.5° | 11° | 12.5° | 14° | 13° | 11° | 8.5° | 7° |
| Visibility | 5m | 5m | 6m | 8m | 10m | 14m |
A further 4 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
ELTON is a steamship wreck located off Orkney, United Kingdom. The vessel was lost by scuttling in 1914. The wreck is diveable.
ELTON was deliberately scuttled on October 3rd, 1914, off Orkney, United Kingdom.
The best months to dive ELTON are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 6°C in winter to 14°C in summer.
ELTON is accessed by boat from Kirkwall, Orkney, United Kingdom.
| 18m |
| 18m |
| 14m |
| 9m |
| 6m |
| 5m |
| Access | poor | poor | poor | marginal | good | good | good | good | good | marginal | poor | poor |
|---|
| Marine life | Lowwinter conditions | Lowwinter conditions | Lowwinter conditions | Moderateseason starting; seals present | Moderateseals, wrasse, lobster, soft corals | Highseals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals | Highseals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals | Highseals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals | Goodseals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals | Goodseals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals | Lowwinter conditions | Lowwinter conditions |
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