Exploring sunken warships
An aerial view of the Orkney Islands, Scotland, May 3, 2014.
During both World Wars, Scapa Flow was an important British naval base, and the site of significant loss of life.
Following the end of World War I, 74 German warships were interned there, and on June 21, 1919, most were deliberately sunk, or scuttled, at the orders of German Rear Admiral Ludwig Von Reuter, who mistakenly thought that the Armistice had broken down and wanted to prevent the British from using the ships.
Now Scapa Flow is a popular site for divers, who explore the few sunken ships that still remain at the bottom.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Divers prepare to dive on the wreck of a German WWI warship at Scapa Flow, May 5, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Skipper Angus Budge and his dog Hector take people out to dive on the wreck of a German WWI warship, May 7, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A dive plan of the Tabarka wreck is drawn on a dive boat at Scapa Flow, May 6, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
The ship's mascot Hector looks for divers returning from the wreck of a German WWI warship, May 7, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A diver jumps into the water, ahead of a dive on the wreck of a German WWI warship, May 7, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A diver illuminates a gun on the deck of SMS Coln, a German WWI warship at Scapa Flow, May 8, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Divers explore inside the upturned blockship Tabarka in Burra Sound, May 8, 2014. Tabarka was deliberately sunk during WWII to try and block the path of German U-Boats.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Divers explore inside the upturned blockship Tabarka in Burra Sound, May 8, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A diver illuminates a gun on the deck of SMS Karlsruhe, a German WWI warship at Scapa Flow, May 9, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A diver swims past the boilers of the upturned blockship Tabarka in Burra Sound, May 8, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A diver returns to a dive boat from the wreck of a German WWI warship at Scapa Flow, May 5, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Divers take a break after diving on the wreck of a German WWI warship at Scapa Flow, May 5, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A dive plan of SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm, a German WWI warship, is drawn on the window of a dive boat at Scapa Flow, May 6, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A dive boat moors up on the island of Hoy, May 6, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A memorial to Lord Kitchener, who died when the HMS Hampshire hit a German mine on June 5, 1916, is seen at Marwick Head, May 3, 2014.
Kitchener was on a diplomatic mission to Russia when the HMS Hampshire sank with the loss of over 600 lives.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A man takes a photograph of a blockship - a boat that has been sunk in order to block a waterway - in the Orkney Islands, May 8, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Graves stand in Lyness Naval Cemetery on the island of Hoy in the Orkney Islands, May 6, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
The graves of 13 German sailors who died in the Grand Scuttle stand in Lyness Naval Cemetery on the Orkney Islands, May 6, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A salvaged gun from SMS Bremse stands in the Lyness museum on the island of Hoy, May 6, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
A poppy memorial for Leading Seaman Elias Dymock who died on HMS Vanguard, is seen on display at the Lyness museum on the island of Hoy, May 6, 2014.
On July 9, 1917, an accidental explosion destroyed HMS Vanguard, killing over 800 men.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Gary Gibson's mother, Peggy, sits at home in the Orkney Islands, May 5, 2014.
Peggy and her sisters witnessed the Grand Scuttle in 1919 while they were on a school trip.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
The Italian chapel is seen on the Orkney Islands, May 8, 2014.
During WWII, Italian prisoners of war were used to build what is know as the Churchill barriers, four stone causeways that link some the islands.
An Italian prisoner, Domenico Chiocchetti, built what is known as the Italian chapel from one of the huts at the prisoner of war camp.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
The Italian chapel is seen on the Orkney Islands, May 8, 2014.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
The Italian chapel is seen on the Orkney Islands, May 8, 2014.