Totnes BSAC at Scapa Flow - 1991

In 1991 Totnes visited Scapa Flow with the determination to video the wrecks. Two video cameras were used and a lot of underwater footage was obtained. Robert Swanney captained the Triton for a full week of diving in June 1991. Most of the German wrecks were visited and adventurous exploration of the battleships was done.

The highlight of the week was the raising of the binnacle from the Derflinger wreck. Earlier in the season, a diving party had mentioned to Robert Swanney that there was something on the sea bed around where the Derflinger had been salvaged. A party went down and discovered that the binnacle of the wreck was lying on the bottom. A salvage operation was initiated, and without any mishap the binnacle was successfully brought up and given to the Lyness museum. Here's a picture of it in the museum in 1995.

The raising of the binnacle (low res)

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