Brummer earned her name — "Growler" in German — in October 1917, when she and her sister Bremse ambushed a British convoy bound for Norway and left two destroyers and nine merchant ships on the seabed in a single action. A century on, she lies on her starboard side in Gutter Sound, one of the few German warships that salvage teams never touched. That neglect is the diver's gain. The brass bridge, gleaming dully in torch light, has become one of the defining images of Scapa Flow diving. Mine rails run along the deck where 400 contact mines once sat ready for deployment, and scattered arsenal pieces litter the seabed around the hull. At 22 to 36 metres, the Brummer sits in a comfortable depth band for advanced sport divers and rewards repeat visits — every pass along the hull seems to reveal another fitting the salvage crews left untouched.
Fast minelaying cruiser armed with 4 x 15cm guns, 2 x 8.8cm AA guns, capable of carrying 400 mines. In October 1917, Brummer and sister ship Bremse raided a British convoy to Norway, sinking HMS Mary Rose, HMS Doris, and nine merchant ships. Never raised for scrapping — one of the most complete wrecks in the Flow.
SMS Brummer is a cruiser wreck located off Orkney, United Kingdom at a depth of 36 metres. The vessel was lost by scuttling in 1919. The wreck is diveable.
SMS Brummer lies at 22 to 36 metres depth, Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow.
SMS Brummer was deliberately scuttled on 21 June 1919 during World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet, off Orkney, United Kingdom. 0 people lost their lives.
Diving the SMS Brummer is rated advanced and is requires an Advanced Open Water certification with wreck diving experience. Minimum certification: Advanced Open Water. Recommended: Advanced Open Water + Nitrox.
The best months to dive SMS Brummer are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 6°C in winter to 14°C in summer.
SMS Brummer is accessed by boat from Stromness, Orkney, United Kingdom. A dive permit is required.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Feb | 6.5°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Mar | 7.0°C | 6.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Apr | 8.0°C | 8.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting; seals present |
| May | 9.5°C | 10.0m | good | Moderate — seals, wrasse, lobster, soft corals |
| Jun | 11.0°C | 14.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Jul | 12.5°C | 18.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Aug | 14.0°C | 18.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Sep | 13.0°C | 14.0m | good | Good — seals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals |
| Oct | 11.0°C | 9.0m | marginal | Good — seals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals |
| Nov | 8.5°C | 6.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Dec | 7.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
3 evidence records from 3 sources.
Brummer-class fast minelaying cruiser. 4 x 15cm guns, 400 mines. Raided British convoy Oct 1917, sinking HMS Mary Rose, HMS Doris, and 9 merchant ships.
Brass bridge is iconic. Arsenal scattered on seabed. Mine rails visible. 22m to 36m depth.
Brummer-class light cruiser (fast minelayer). 4,385 tonnes normal displacement. Commissioned 2 April 1916.
Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow