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Kirkwall Airport
KOI • EGPA
Logistics · Destination Guide
Descend through cold, clear history onto the warships of Scapa Flow
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most visitors reach Orkney by Loganair flight to Kirkwall Airport or by car ferry from mainland Scotland. For a Stromness-based dive week, the NorthLink crossing from Scrabster arrives directly in Stromness and is often the cleanest option for bulky personal equipment. The Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope route is shorter but leaves a cross-island drive, while the Aberdeen to Kirkwall sailing avoids the far-north road journey. Flights connect Kirkwall with Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, with a seasonal Dundee and London Heathrow link described by the destination authority. Build a weather buffer into separate tickets and never schedule a flight too close to the final dive. Confirm dive-equipment and cylinder rules directly with the carrier before departure.
Kirkwall Airport
KOI • EGPA
About 30 km by road to Stromness • About 35 minutesutes by prearranged road transfer
Orkney's main airport, served principally by Loganair from Scottish hubs including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Dundee, with connections onward from the rest of the UK and internationally.
Transport: Prebooked dive-operator transfer, Taxi, Car hire, Public bus via Kirkwall or Finstown
Stromness is compact and walkable, but a vehicle gives the greatest flexibility for the Churchill Barriers, airport, West Mainland archaeology and ferry terminals. Car hire and taxis operate from Kirkwall and Stromness, while public buses serve many major Mainland sights. Inter-island ferries connect Hoy and the outer islands; summer vehicle spaces can sell out, and weather can disrupt services. Dive groups should prearrange transfers rather than expecting a standard taxi to absorb multiple large equipment bags at short notice.
Scapa Flow follows United Kingdom entry rules. British and Irish travelers use their normal domestic or Common Travel Area documentation. Most other visitors need a passport valid for the whole stay and may require a visa or UK Electronic Travel Authorisation depending on nationality and status. An ETA or visa must be approved before travel when required, including some transit itineraries. Requirements and fees can change, so use the official GOV.UK checker rather than relying on an airline summary or an old trip report.
A personal drysuit, regulators, computer, mask, lights and familiar harness are worth bringing. Reserve cylinders, weights, air, nitrox, trimix, rebreather oxygen, diluent, sorb and bailout capacity directly with the vessel because support differs by operator. Do not assume unusual valves, stage sizes or rebreather cylinders are available. Ferries are often easier than flights for large technical systems, but carrier rules still apply. Cylinders transported by air must meet the airline's current dangerous-goods and valve requirements. Pack spare neck and wrist seals, dry-glove components, batteries, charging adapters and basic repair materials because an island shop may not hold a model-specific part.
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Cards and contactless payments are common in Kirkwall, Stromness, larger attractions and established operators. Carry some cash for small island businesses, donation boxes, community cafes or a payment terminal affected by weak connectivity. Dive charters, gas and accommodation are usually reserved and paid under operator-specific terms rather than settled casually at the dock.
ATMs are easiest to find in Kirkwall and Stromness. Withdraw before a day on Hoy or an outer island, and keep a second payment method because remote terminals can lose connectivity.
230V • 50Hz • G
Bring a Type G adapter and confirm that chargers are dual voltage. A compact multi-port charger is useful for computers, torches, cameras and heated equipment, but ask accommodation before using high-load battery or scooter chargers.
Communications
Mobile data and calls are generally usable around Kirkwall, Stromness and populated parts of Mainland, but cliffs, sea routes and outer islands can have weak or absent coverage. Download maps, ferry times, booking details and emergency contacts before leaving town. Accommodation commonly offers Wi-Fi, though island bandwidth can vary. Dive vessels use marine radio for operations and emergency contact; a visitor's phone is not a substitute for the skipper's VHF and emergency plan.
Language
English is used throughout visitor services, diving and emergency response. Orcadian speech has a distinctive local accent and vocabulary, and many place names reflect Norse heritage. Ask a skipper to repeat an unfamiliar wreck feature, harbour instruction or place name rather than guessing, especially during a safety briefing.
Insurance
Carry travel and dive insurance that explicitly covers the maximum planned depth, wreck activity, decompression, technical gases, rebreathers and any penetration you intend to undertake. Confirm hyperbaric treatment, medical evacuation, search and rescue, repatriation, missed transport and weather-disrupted charter days. A vessel's liability cover is not personal medical or trip-cancellation insurance. Disclose relevant medical history and complete any operator or training-agency fitness declaration honestly before arrival.
Packing list
Pack for cold immersion and wind exposure even in summer. Core dive items include a serviced drysuit, warm undergarments, hood, gloves, backup mask, reliable lights, DSMB, reel, cutting tools, wetnotes and spares for seals and dry gloves. Add waterproof deck layers, a warm hat, seasickness medication appropriate for you, insulated bottle and a dry bag. Snorkelers need a 7mm suit or suitable drysuit, hood, gloves and boots. Topside travelers need a waterproof shell, sturdy shoes, binoculars and an eye mask for bright summer nights. Keep a complete dry change accessible after every water session.