Inverlane

The Inverlane is one of the blockships in Burra Sound near to Stromness. She was one of the obvious shipwreck sights that people on the Scrabster to Stromness ferry see as they round the island of Hoy in towards Scapa Flow. The Inverlane used to stick out of the water - bows and masts clearly visible. Unfortunately, she is now a diving memory. During the winter of 1996, part of her hull collapsed and much of the wreck disappeared underwater. She is now unsafe to dive.

In a storm on 29th January 2000, the Inverlane finally sank below the waves. 

This used to be a good dive. Rather different to most Scapa wrecks in that you entered the dive by jumping off the deck into one of the holds below. The dive boat used to moor up alongside the Inverlane allowing divers to clamber over, inspect the exposed bows, kit up and then jump in.

Once in the wreck a different world from the usual Scapa wreck emerges. The visibility within the wreck is superb. 30 - 40 m with sunlight filtering through creates an ambience that is unforgettable. The strong current of Burra Sound means that all silt and sediment are scoured clean. The diver could calmly swim through all the large holds, clearly seeing all the extensive life that is on offer. This dive was good for photographers - not only for the life, but also for the effects and colour that the light makes as it permeates through.

The Inverlane used to be a safe dive - it is not enclosed, it is shallow (15m) and the visibility is excellent. Many divers, however, will want to voyage out to the Sound outside. Provided that it is slackish water this is fine. Good dive planning will allow divers to do a nice drift dive along the Sound and maybe bump into one of the other many submerged blockships nearby.

Update - Jan 1998

Unfortunately, because of damage caused by winter storms the Inverlane is not generally dived now. The mid section of the wreck has collapsed and the ship can move around in the tide. The deck is now always underwater. Nearby blockships attract attention instead.

Update - Jan 2000

The Inverlane has now sunk below the waves.