SMS Köln
Also known as: SMS Coln
Best time to dive
May to September
Certification & difficulty
Advanced Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.
Snorkelling
Not a snorkel site
Safety notes
Cold water, potential entanglement/penetration hazards typical of a large collapsed warship wreck, and proximity to a working harbour/anchorage; strict local rules prohibit diving within 500m of the Flotta oil terminal, submarine pipelines and designated military wreck sites (HMS Royal Oak, HMS Vanguard, HMS Hampshire)
Permits & fees
Written permission required in advance from OIC Marine Services/Harbour Master (Orkney Harbours) before any dive; must fly an 'A' flag, notify Orkney VTS on VHF Ch.11 before and after diving, hold at least GBP 5 million third-party liability insurance, and comply with boat time-slot allocations; SMS Coln is a Scheduled Ancient Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 - no touching or removal of material permitted
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Location
Nearest hub: Stromness
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.