Churchill Barrier 3

Churchill Barrier 3 is a dive site at one of the four causeways built during World War II to protect the British naval base at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Scotland. The barriers were constructed using sunken blockships, concrete blocks, and rubble to seal the eastern approaches after a German U-boat infiltrated the anchorage in 1939. Diving here explores the remains of blockships deliberately scuttled to form the barrier foundations. These wrecks have become artificial reefs teeming with soft corals, anemones, kelp, and crustaceans. The tidal currents flowing through gaps in the barriers can be strong, making precise slack water timing essential. A unique blend of military history and marine biology in one of the UK's most storied diving locations.