Type:     Konig class battleship. which was built at the AG Weser shipyard in Bremen. Her keel was laid in November 1911 and she was launched on 4 June 1913. After completion she was commissioned on 1 October 1914, the others being the SMS Konig, the SMS Grober Kurfurst, and the SMS Kronprinz. The Markgraf displaced 28,600 tons fully loaded, with a length of 175m, a beam of 30m and a draft of  9m. She was powered by three turbines developing 41,400 hp each, giving a maximum speed of 21 knots. She was armed with ten 12" guns arranged in five double gun turrets, two super firing turrets fore and aft with one turret midships between the two funnels and five 500mm torpedo tubes. She was scuttled by her crew on 21 June 1919, together with the entire German High Seas Fleet and sank at 1645 hrs. 

Picture: 

                                Showing the old mast before it was replaced.

                                         With spotting top on the mast. 

Wreck Information :    The Markgraf sits upside down leaning to her port side on a flat seabed with most of the superstructure crushed into the wreck and the seabed to the level of the big 12" guns. It is possible to enter the 12" gun turrets between the two funnels and fin under the port side and see the other gun. This is a dive best done on a rebreather or a twin set if looking at the guns because of the depth. It is possible to scuba dive her if you stick to the top of the wreck (best to stay off the port side at 26m). A good way of finding the bow from the stern if you are midships is the big 12" guns between the funnels point to the stern. The 12" guns with the stepped barrels can clearly be seen on the seabed midships. Armour plating is starting to fall off the hull and lie on the seabed.  At the stern the two massive rudders can still be seen with the lead anodes bolted to the middle, the propellers were removed years ago. The mast and spotting top for the new stereoscopic rangefinder are now lying on the sea bed and the roof is missing so you can see some of the rangefinder equipment. See the pictures below. 

Harbour / slip:    Stromness 

Travel directions:  Northlinkferries    0845 6000 449.     Photographic ID is required on the ferry now 

Parking    In the car park opposite to the ferry car entrance.

Distance from harbour:   5.9 Nm 

Lat / Long:       58.53.31N    3.09.55W    East side of Cava  

Chart:   Admiralty Chart 35, Scapa Flow and Approaches

Depth:  45m on the seabed and 24m at the shallowest point of the hull. She is the deepest of the German high seas fleet scuttled in Scapa flow.

Tides:  Tide tables 

Dive Boat: The Karin  Jean Elaine Sharon Rose Sunrise   Gaelic Rose  Invincible    Halton  Valkyrie

Day boats:   Radiant queen  

Dive Shop:    Scapascuba

Accommodation:  Polrudden guest house   Orkney Islands Tourist Board, 01856 872856,       Visit Orkney 

Suggested experience:    Master diver / Trimix 

Other comments:  The Markgraf is still in good condition (2009) and makes a good penetration dive with great care taken. If its dark its a good idea to put a strobe 2m above the highest point of the wreck on the shot line so you don't have to use a DSMB. The shot line gets moved as it gets replaced so I cant say where it will be when you dive it. 

Pub:     The Ferry Inn  & Flatties Bar 

Created by:     John Nicolson 

Date:    12/5/09 

Revision:  5 

Thanks To:   The Karin 

Links:     Wikipedia   WW1   Link   Link   Link   Webcam

Underwater photos:   By John Nicolson and  Scapamap   3Dmap

Wreck diagram: 

Dive Report:    John Nicolson 7/5/09 A great dive under and through the wreck. The 12" guns in their turrets are a spectacular site. This is a great wreck for a penetration dive but remember to to line off as there is fair bit of silt inside the wreck. At the broken part of midships there is a hatch leading into the galley and officers quarters. 

Dive Report:    Meeko 16/10/09  American Bob and I did a deep penetration in to the stern quarters on the Markgraf on Friday. The entrance is on the stb side high up through a hatch. Below this area is a wrenched out plate which also offers penetration along the inside of the stb hull with nice views through the porthole spaces There is some ambient light but it is one way so you must come out the same way you went in Lining off here is not essential but advisable.As to the hatch, this is a different ball game and not for the faint of heart. Lining of with high vis line tied off often as you go further in is essential. The areas available inside are worth the effort with many artifacts to be seen where they fell or were placed. However it is extremely tight so getting in with OC and side slings is not easy and it is full of silt so if you're a dredger stay out.We did it on CCR units and went in about 60 mts. Again if you are considering this one you must be comfy with deep overhead places and be prepared for a 90 minute run time.