IIRC the RN tried towing a Sea Scout or Coastal non-rigid airship behind a warship and the trials were successful. I don't remember the date, but it was after Jutland.As a scout in this time, an Airship would have to be more reliable then a scout aircraft.
It might not be quite as quick, but its probably a safer option then flying an early single engined aircraft over water for extended periods of time, plus the instruments available at the time would have presumably limited them to what is now VFR conditions, whereas an airship would be less limited by this, and also have greater endurance.
IIRC the Sea Scout had been around for about a year at the time of the Battle of Jutland and even if it hadn't there were the non-rigid airships transferred to the RNAS in 1914 (IIRC) so it's possible to have the trials brought forward if someone thought of it.