WRECKED
T
he Cöln is the finest and most intact accessible wreck dive in Scapa Flow. Of the 7,700 images I have shot over the years in the waters of the flow, only the Karlsruhe has received more attention and the sole reason for that is depth…you get more bottom time to create on the Karlsruhe. I adore the Cöln. Resting on her starboard side, the wreck lies in 36 metres of water. Her highest point is about 22m and most of the interesting features are below 30m. Despite approaching the hundredth anniversary of her sinking, the Cöln has withstood the ravages of salt-water immersion well and has steadfastly refused to collapse. Preservation of a ship-like form makes navigation a doddle, and for those who like to see things from the inside, and are appropriately qualified, a swim through from the bow before exiting the wreck just aft of the armoured fire control tower is a popular tour. The shot line is normally tied off to a point just aft of the bridge, so keeping the now vertical deck of the wreck on your left shoulder will lead you to the bows.
The sharp lines of the bow still hang above the seabed, with the anchor chains draped from their hawsers. Swim away from the bow, look back and rotate the view 90º in your mind. It is not difficult to imagine the ship moored at anchor when seen from this perspective. When compared to her sister the Dresden, the Cöln really has retained her designer’s intended form. With the deck on your right shoulder, the swim aft takes you to the mounting points of the twin 150-millimetre forward guns. Just behind the guns sits the armoured fire-control tower. With its distinctive viewing slits and thick steel walls it’s a wonder (and a credit to the ship’s builders) how the sheer mass of the control tower hasn’t pulled itself off its mounting. On top of the control tower sits the optical range finder, looking not unlike modern radar. Used to range the main guns, the internal optics was considered top secret at the time, so the glass elements were removed before the Cöln’s final departure from Germany.
Left: Exploring under the bows Right: Anemones on the forward mast
Essentials DEPTH RANGE: 22-36m FINDING THE WRECK: The Cöln lies at 58°53.830N 003°8.450W TIDAL INFORMATION: Dive at any state of the tide. GAS: An ideal nitrox mix would be 30%, with an MOD of 37m at pO2 of 1.4 bar.
Salvage break
High elevation 88mm gun
Pinnace davits
Torpedo tube
Forward mast
Midships port 5.9inch guns
Cloche ventilators
Forward 5.9inch gun mounts
Anchor capstan
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