Also known as: SMS Kronprinz
Where other Scapa battleships demand technical qualifications, the Kronprinz Wilhelm meets experienced sport divers on their own terms. Her tilted posture — port side uppermost, starboard buried in the seabed — places the shallowest hull plating at just twelve metres and stretches the dive profile all the way down to 43 at the deepest point. The real draw is the main armament: half of the original complement of 12-inch guns remain visible and reachable, turret after turret lined up along a hull that still measures 146 metres on the seabed. It is the closest most recreational divers will ever come to comprehending the firepower of a dreadnought. Diveable at any state of tide and usually marked with two small buoys, the Kronprinz is the most forgiving of the three battleships — and arguably the most spectacular for the qualification required.
Fourth and final Konig-class dreadnought. Armed with 10 x 30.5cm guns, 14 x 15cm guns. Fought at the Battle of Jutland. Interned at Scapa Flow and scuttled on orders of Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter.
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm is a battleship wreck located off Orkney, United Kingdom at a depth of 43 metres. The vessel was lost by scuttling in 1919. The wreck is diveable.
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm lies at 12 to 43 metres depth, 0.75 mile NE of Cava, Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow.
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm 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 Kronprinz Wilhelm 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 Kronprinz Wilhelm are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 6°C in winter to 14°C in summer.
SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm 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.
Depth 12m shallowest to 38m seabed, max 43m. Can be dived at any state of tide. Two small buoys.
Fourth and final Konig-class dreadnought. Scuttled 21 June 1919. Most accessible of the battleships for experienced sport divers.
Tilted with port side uppermost. Half of 12-inch guns still visible. Overall length on seabed 146m.
0.75 mile NE of Cava, Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow