Wreck Dives
EX HMAS Hobart
Location: Wirrinna Boat Ramp
Rating: Advanced+
The Vessel The HMAS Hobart was a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer in the Royal Australia Navy (DDG 39), built in the United States of America and commissioned in 1965 in Boston. Her role was air defence of the fleet. The design of ships of this class was particularly versatile and she had anti-submarine and surface gunnery capabilities.
Tours of duty HMAS Hobart completed three tours of duty off Vietnam in 1967, 1968 and 1970. In 1968, two sailors lost their lives and seven others were injured after the vessel was hit by "friendly" fire. In 1988 the HMAS Hobart participated in the Hobart Bicentennial Australia Day Celebrations.
Dimensions:
Length: 437 feet (133.2 metres)
Beam (width): 47 feet (14.3 metres)
Displacement: 4,720 tonnes
Complement: 20 Officers 312 Sailors
Launched January 9, 1964 by Mrs David Hay, wife of the then Australian Ambassador to the United Nations. Commissioned December 18, 1965 at Boston. Built by Defoe Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Michigan - the second of three guided missile destroyers built for the Royal Australian Navy.
Armament TARTAR guided missile (single rail launcher), two 5"/54 calibre rapid fire fully automatic guns (in single turrets). Anti-submarine torpedoes (two triple mounts). IKARA, Australian designed and built long-range anti-submarine weapon (fitted in Australia). Propulsion Speeds in excess of 30 knots were obtained from geared steam turbines on two shafts.
Command facilities:
The latest concepts in long range sonar, radar, communication and electronic equipment provided the Command with the necessary up-to-date information in the Operations Room.
Accommodation: All living spaces were air-conditioned. Amenities included regular movie shows, internal news and broadcasting services, free laundry, a canteen stocked with a wide variety of goods and all the latest facilities expected of modern day ships.
Cost Purchased by Australia from the United States of America for US$45,000,000 including spare parts, stores, ammunition etc.
The South Australian 'The Dredge'
Location: Glenelg 10 kms from Adelaide.
Rating: Novice+
The Dredge is the wreck of the South Australian. A sand dredge used to suction sand from the Port River. It is a purposely sunk wreck 30m long laying upright in 20m water. The deck area is at 14m. The site has prolific fish life and is home to many a cuttlefish in season as well as the odd Wobbie! Well worth a look.
Glenelg Barge
Location: Glenelg 10 kms from Adelaide.
Rating: Novice+
The Glenelg Barge is a hopper barge used by the Glenelg Dredge to take the silt dredged up from the Port River and dump it further out to sea. She was sunk in 1984 as an artificial reef and lies in 20m of water. A star dropper trail has been set up to enable divers to travel from the barge to the dredge and vice versa in times of low current.The barge is a very interesting wreck with a wide variety of fish. Divers can swim its 30m length with ease. At either end there is a small opening where divers can penetrate into the work rooms. In these rooms on each side of the hoppers is the entrance to the flotation chambers and divers may peer into them. Divers may be tempted to attempt a penetration and it can be done as long as the divers are properly prepared with lines, torches etc. The entrance to each chamber is very restricted. This penetration is not recommended. The main hazards are rusting metal, silting and restricted entrances to the penetrations.
Stanvac Barges
Location: O'Sullivans beach - Approximately 5 kms west of Port Stanvac Oil refinery from O'Sullivans Beach Boat Ramp.
Rating: Advanced
There are 3 barges at this site, one is 163x29 and the two measure 71 x 49. To really see this sight, you need to anchor in the right spot. At 28m this is an advanced dive and bottom time is restricted. The barges form an artificial reef on an otherwise sandy bottom. Plenty of fish there. On calm days small hammerhead sharks can be seen sun baking on the surface.
The Wreck of the John Robb
Location: 15kms offshore from North Haven
Rating: Advanced
This wreck sank during a storm around 1910 and is in the outer shipping channel to Outer Harbour, the wreck is 15kms offshore from North Haven and lies in 18m of water. It is now nearly completely broken up with only the bow section recognisable sticking out of the sand pointing west. The wreck is extremely difficult to locate as land marks are almost impossible to find and a reliable GPS bearing is needed. Marine life around the wreck varies from prolific to almost barren depending on the day. Visibility is generally fairly good due to the distance offshore, but it is subject to tidal currents which can be strong.
The Norma
Location: 4kms offshore from North Haven
Rating: Novice+
The NORMA was a steel 3 masted vessel that capsized and sank in the main shipping channel of Outer Harbour in The early 1900s. The wreck lies 4kms offshore from North Haven in 16m of water and is subject to strong tidal currents. When the Norma sank it settled upright on the bottom and had its masts just below the surface. At high tide this caused a Shipping hazard and authorities decided to blow It up. Now the wreck of the Norma is spread out over quite a large area and is very difficult to discern as a wreck. It consists of a large area of twisted metal lying on the bottom. The bow area is still recogniseable and acts as a marine haven for fish. The remains are very interesting, Penetration is not recommended. The fish life is prolific. The bow area is also home to a 2.5m wobbegong. If diving the Norma be aware it is still in the shipping channel and it is unwise to leave your dive vessel without surface support as LARGE ships still use the channel.
MV Sea Wolf
Location: Noarlunga 25 kms South of Adelaide
Rating: Novice
Sitting in around 20 metres of water, the Seawolf is one of SA's newest shipwrecks. Sunk in 2001, it makes an interesting dive to see the marine life forming. Can be penetrated quite easily, and can also be combined with the Lumb in the same dive to make an interesting swim around.
The Lumb
Location: Noarlunga 25 kms South of Adelaide : Boat Dive from O'Sullivans Beach Boat Ramp
Rating: Novice
The Lumb is a new wreck sunk in 1994 specifically as a dive site by the SA dive industry. She lies upright on the bottom 30 m west of the Noarlunga tyre reef in 20m of water 2.5 kms west of Noarlunga jetty. The Lumb started life as a tug working in Tasmania before being used at Port Lincoln. She was refitted as a fishing trawler and used to fish for tuna. At the end of her life she was purchased by the dive industry. She was cleaned up and holes were cut in her deck and she was sunk as a dive site. Penetrations are easy and safe as holes were cut allowing easy safe penetration. The main hazard is grease on the wreck and some loose cabling plus some sharp edged metal.
The Clarries 'Claris'
Location: Glenelg
Rating: Advanced
The Clarries is in 28m of water about 4km west of the Dredge and is around 12m in length. The fish life is very good, there is a reasonable amount of growth on the wrecks too. Good weather is needed to dive it, due to it's distance from shore.
There are acutally two wrecks here, a 40ft fishing trawler and an iron structure of similar size. No-one seems to know anything about what the boat is, when is was sunk etc. Judging by the growth between 10-15 years. The structure again no-one knows what it is. It is 5 metres high, 10 metres wide and 15 metres long and has ladders on it. It looks like the superstructure of a ship.
Zanoni
Location: Ardrossan
Rating: Open Water+
Heritage listed site. Many of the original artifacts remain on this site. A Permit is needed in order to dive this site. She was built in 1865, and sunk in 1867 and sits in around 18m of water. She was a 3 masted composite ship, 42 metres long. What is so special about her, is due to the salinity of that end of the gulf, the worms haven't gotten to her yet, so she is remarkably intact. She lies on her side and a bit of the superstructure is still standing.
AV Ulonga
Location: About 20mins from Wirrinna Boat Ramp
Rating: Deep+
The Ulonga is the sister ship to the South Australian Liveaboard dive/fishing vessel, the Falie. She was originally a sailing ketch, was then converted to work on the River Murray, and then converted again, with an engine, to do short coastal freight runs. She was lost in a storm in 1976, and wasn't found again until approximately the year 2001.
She lies in 39m to the sand, in an area PRONE to high currents. It can only be dived on days of dodge tides, or during slack water. Other things to look out for are entanglement on the myriad of anchors and fishing lines hooked on her bow, the ever present wobbegongs, and excess amounts of silt.
*Must have redundant air system.
The Songvaar
Location: Wardang Island, Port Victoria
Rating: Open Water
The Songvaar was a 3 masted Iron ship, weighing 2128 tons. She sank in 1912 after taking shelter at Port Victoria. She was turned around by the current and sat on her own anchor whilst the crew where enjoying themselves in Port Victoria. She sits in only 10 metres of water, with the offending anchor still visible and imbedded in her hull. Visibility at the sight is dependent on current, but plenty of bottom time can be spent amongst the snapper, cuttlefish and other marine life that now call the ship their home.
The Australian
Location: Wardang Island, Port Victoria
Rating: Open Water
This 352 ton steamship was sunk in 1912, after it ran aground on the south eastern corner of Wardang Island. She only sits in 8msw so it can also make for a great snorkel in between dives on the Songvaar and Port Victoria jetty. There is limited growth on the wreck due to surge in the surrounding area making the wreck extremely visible. The wreck is teaming with marine life, surrounded by sweep, silver drummer and leather jackets. The wreck is well worth a visit, even if it is just for a snorkel.
Clan Ranald
Location: Troubridge Point, Edithburgh
Rating: Advanced
The Clan Ranald sits in 20msw, about a 1/2 hour boat ride from Edithburgh. Large boar fish, snapper and cod are usually found on the site, as well as huge crayfish that cannot be taken as it is a marine reserve. This 3500 ton ship was lost in 1909, with the loss of 40 lives. A flaw in the ship’s design caused the ship to turn over when overloaded, causing her to sink after her departure from Port Adelaide on the 31st January 1909. Many of the gravesites can be visited at the Edithburgh cemetery. The anchor of the Clan Ranald sits on the cliffs above the wreck, marking its location to visitors.
The Star of Greece
Location: Port Willunga
Rating: Open Water
The wreck of the Star of Greece lies 200m off shore at Port Willunga. She was lost on the 17th of July 1888, with the loss of lives. A mass headstone for the crew of 17 can be found at the Aldinga cemetary.
She lies in 6 msw with the mast still visible at low tide. The wreck is sometimes covered by sand, so summer is the best time to find her with little sand and seaweed movement. She makes for a great snorkel, with plenty of parts of the wreck to see.
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