NBM Dive Site Resource
U-681 — Isles of Scilly
Bishop Rock offshore, England, United Kingdom
A human-dived Type VIIC wreck west of the Isles of Scilly. Cornwall’s coastal assessment records mixed-gas dives in 1999 at about 70 m.
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Original NBM Artwork
Aquatic life at this dive site
What divers may encounter
Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Site media
Photographs
Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Contributor media
Dive videos
Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.Regional location and nearby land
Location map
Regional context around Atlantic west of the Isles of Scilly, including nearby land. Historical positions are not surveyed dive navigation fixes.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Recent field observations
Diver-reported temperatures
Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.
Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
A submarine lost after Bishop Rock grounding damage followed by an air attack, later documented by divers.
Shipwreck-only module
The wreck
This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.
- Vessel type
- German Type VIIC submarine
- Year built
- 1944 (commissioned)
- Year sunk
- 1945
- Cause of loss
- A US Navy Liberator of VPB-103 sank U-681 west of Bishop Rock on March 11, 1945, after grounding damage the previous day. Thirty-eight crew members survived and eleven died. Divers later located the wreck.
- Present condition
- Historical diver-identified wreck; no current NBM condition survey.
- Penetration guidance
- No penetration or artifact recovery authorization is implied.
Before you arrive
Access notes
The 2004 archaeological assessment establishes historical dives, not current access or condition. Confirm current requirements and local support. Treat the loss site as a maritime grave; no artifact recovery or penetration authorization is implied.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Depth, Atlantic swell, currents, cold water, entanglement and damaged metal.
Independent resource notice
This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.