SMS Markgraf

SMS Markgraf was scuttled with the German High Seas Fleet in 1919 and today lies nearly overturned, propped on her starboard side by her superstructure. Dive guides call her the jewel of Scapa Flow because the bow, the stern and the two rudders, each about 3.5 metres tall, survived both the scuttling and the later salvage work. Along the starboard edge divers find a line of casemate guns, the bent mast with its spotting top, rows of portholes and the anchor chain draped across the hull. Salvage blasting opened the torpedo room at the bow and the engine rooms, where the high-pressure turbines are still visible. Because of her depth and size she is regarded as the most demanding of the German wrecks and usually takes several dives to understand.