Fees · Destination Guide
Descend through cold, clear history onto the warships of Scapa Flow
Key fee: Orkney Harbour recreational diving permission
No published application fee
Confirm these fees before you book so your operator plan and day budget match what you will pay onsite.
Orkney Islands Council states that an overnight visitor levy will not go ahead at this time, and no separate Scapa Flow marine-park tag is identified in the reviewed official sources. The material requirement is written permission from Orkney Islands Council Marine Services for recreational diving within harbour areas. Charter skippers normally coordinate the application and site allocation. The Historic Marine Protected Area does not charge an admission fee or require a special licence merely to view the protected assets, but touching, tampering, removal and unconsented works are prohibited. Independent vessel operators must verify owner permissions, VTS reporting and any site-specific restrictions before diving.
| Fee | Amount | Applies to | Where to pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orkney Harbour recreational diving permission |
No published application fee Approved sites and dates; visiting vessels receive site-specific permissions, while local vessels may receive general-area permission for up to one month |
| Recreational, sport, tourism, training and leisure diving within Orkney Harbour Areas |
| Where to pay |
Written permission must be granted before diving. The permit requires vessel, skipper, supervisor, organization, site and date details. An International Code Flag A must be displayed, and the vessel reports movements to Orkney VTS on the channels specified by Marine Services. Charter guests should confirm that their skipper has included them in the operating permission. |
| Scapa Flow Historic Marine Protected Area access | No admission fee Ongoing from 1 November 2025 | Visitors, divers, vessel operators and anyone proposing work within the protected historic wreckscape | Where to pay | A special licence is not required simply to visit and observe the protected assets. Do not touch, tamper with, sample, move or remove wreck material or seabed artifacts. Recovery, installation, sampling and other works may require formal consent in addition to harbour permission. |
| Orkney overnight visitor levy and Scapa Flow marine park tag | Not charged at the time of research Current status; recheck before booking | General visitors | Where to pay | Orkney Islands Council decided that an overnight visitor levy will not go ahead at this time. No separate recreational marine-park tag was identified for Scapa Flow. Normal accommodation, museum, ferry, parking and operator charges still apply, and policies should be rechecked at booking. |
Fee
Approved sites and dates; visiting vessels receive site-specific permissions, while local vessels may receive general-area permission for up to one month
Written permission must be granted before diving. The permit requires vessel, skipper, supervisor, organization, site and date details. An International Code Flag A must be displayed, and the vessel reports movements to Orkney VTS on the channels specified by Marine Services. Charter guests should confirm that their skipper has included them in the operating permission.
Ongoing from 1 November 2025
A special licence is not required simply to visit and observe the protected assets. Do not touch, tamper with, sample, move or remove wreck material or seabed artifacts. Recovery, installation, sampling and other works may require formal consent in addition to harbour permission.
Current status; recheck before booking
Orkney Islands Council decided that an overnight visitor levy will not go ahead at this time. No separate recreational marine-park tag was identified for Scapa Flow. Normal accommodation, museum, ferry, parking and operator charges still apply, and policies should be rechecked at booking.