Shipwreck diving in Tasmanian waters |
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This page is being developed as a guide to shipwreck dive sites in Tasmanian waters.
Maria Orr
Location
Kelly's Rocks off the eastern tip of the point south of Recherche Bay,
Southern Tasmania
History
Carvel built, square sterned, whaling ship. The largest vessel built in Tasmania
at the time: 288 tons gross, built in Hobart in 1838
Anchor chains parted whilst sheltering in Recherche Bay, it was driven onto Kelly's
Rocks in a squall. One person drowned.
Dive Conditions
Reasonably sheltered from the west, north and some shelter from south. A relatively shallow
dive (assuming the main wreck has not slipped back into deep water). (Maximum 20 metres on
a sandy bottom). The main hull structure has not been found, or if it has, its location
is not known by me! Quite a bit of material has been salvaged - pottery, fittings etc, some
in recent years.
General Comments
I have not dived this site, but it should be quite a good one: abalone divers frequently
work the area, so it should be nice rocks and sealife.
Karitane
Location
Squally Cove, southern side of Deal Island, Kent Group, Bass Strait
History
Steel screw steamer built in the UK in 1903 by Austin and son. Originally the CAVALIER, 1376 tons, but renamed on purchase by the USSCo of NZ. in 1905. Coastal trader around Tasmania. Was lost in fog on 23rd December 1921, when struck Deal Island. Beached in order to try and save vessel. The cargo was copper ingots, most of which was salvaged at the time.
Dive Conditions
Very attractive site in good weather: pure blue water, in a narrow bay which is very sheltered from all directions except the south.
The wreck stands proud on the sandy bottom, with most of the hull structure very obvious, though the deck and superstructure are gone. The bow is virtually on the pebbly beach, rising out of the water at low tide.
The stern is 80 metres south of the beach in 7 metres of water.
General Comments
Has been extensively dived and all cargo has been salvaged, but still a great dive because of the safe, pristine conditions, and the amount of structure left. If the wind direction is anywhere but south, and conditions are calm this is a beautiful spot to dive.
Katherine Sharer
Location
30 metres or so due west of the mid to north part of Scott Pt. on the southern side of the entrance to Port Esperance, in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel between the Tasmanian mainland and Bruny Island
History
The Katherine Sharer (also known as the Catherine Shearer) was built by Sunderland in the UK in 1850. A 440 ton timber ship, she was owned by the Sharer family, and was bound for Hobart with a cargo of gunpowder (!).
On the 6th June 1855 she was moored off Port Esperance when she caught fire. In a panic the crew abandoned her before the cargo exploded. The ship was destroyed completely.
Spars and mail were found some kilometers inland.
The site was first dived on in 1929 and is still frequently dived on.
Despite the explosion and destruction of the ship itself, quite a number of artefacts have been retrieved, and some of the hull structure from below the waterline is preserved.
Dive Conditions
A pleasant dive, not dangerous, though exposed to southerlies and swell coming up the D'Entrecasteaux channel. The wreck is on a flat sandy bottom, 18 metres depth. Easy to find due to weed growth. Pick your day (a light north-westerly wind on a late Autumn day is ideal).
General Comments
Due to the explosion, the wreck and associated cargo are scattered some 50 metres or more from the centre of impact. No anchors etc.
Remember that wrecks and the artefacts from them older than 75 years are protected by Australian law.
George III
Location
George III Rocks, 2 km north-west of Actaeon Island, south of the entrance to D'Entrecasteaux channel, southern Tasmania. (Easy to find on most maps)
History
Built in 1810. A convict transportation ship and therefore of historical interest. It went aground on an unmarked reef on the night of 12th April 1835.
127 convicts drowned (supposedly shot at to confine them below decks as the ship sank)
4 passengers and 2 crew also drowned. There were 208 convicts, 32 soldiers, 32 crew and 18 passengers on board, 16 of who died on the way out, and 60 of whom were ill at the time from scurvy. (Scurvy was a common disease at the time due to lack of fresh fruit and vegetables on the way out).
Dive Conditions
5 to 10 metres depth (sounds easy, but..). Highly exposed to weather from all directions, but particularly the south. Wreck is hidden in bull kelp: don't dive in any sort of swell. Pick one of those rare calm days and go early in the morning. Don't bother in Summer as the sea breeze will make the diving impossible.
Check with Fisheries: the site may still be closed, due to research.
Remains are difficult to find due to the kelp.
General Comments
Artefacts have been raised in the past, including a rudder gudgeon supposed to be at the Huonville High School, and an anchor on display at Dover.
There is a monument to those who drowned on the shore nearby at Southport Bluff.
Wallace
Location
400 metres south of Sterile Island, south of the mouth of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, on the soutwestern edge of the reef known as South East Break (on marine charts).
History
Three masted barque built in 1834 in Scotland. 338 tons. On her maiden voyage with general cargo
Struck the reef at 11:00am on 21st August 1835 in heavy surf, tearing off the rudder. All passengers and crew got off, but within two days the ship was lost.
Dive Conditions
A very shallow site: 2 to 3 metres. Highly exposed to weather from all directions, but particularly the south. Wreck is hidden in bull kelp in a number of small gullies. (same comments as the George III apply, only conditions are worse!)
General Comments
Some large and well preserved items on this site include three anchors and a cannon. Other items lie wedged in crevices nearby.
Good hull remnants have not been found, probably due to the exposed nature of the site.
Mary Wadley
Location
Just off the entrance to Garden Island Creek, between Garden Island and the shore. Park your car on the gravel area where the road turns at the point. 50 metres or so off shore on the south-east side of two rocky reefs.
History
Three masted barquentine built at the Macleay River in NSW in 1874. Used in the timber trade with Hobart and the Huon.
Cast off to seek safety from the shore in a southerly gale on 22 April 1901, but caught on the mud and keeled over when her anchors dragged. Water filled the hull and she sank.
Due to the normally sheltered nature of the site, most cargo and fittings were salvaged at the time.
Dive Conditions
A shallow site (5 metres or less). Normally very sheltered, particularly from the east and south-east. An easy dive for beginners, but can get muddy after rain and if silt is raised by divers.
General Comments
Few artefacts are left, however considerable hull structure is still there, though under the mud. The keel appears to run east-west, with other ship components on the southern side (anchor chain, deadeyes etc)
Cambridgeshire
Location
Cambridgeshire rocks, due south of Thunder and Lightening Bay (Cape Barren Island) and due west of the westernmost point on Preservation Island, Bass Strait. About 200 metres off Preservation Island. The reef rises out of the water. The easiest way to get there is to get Jim Luddington on Flinders Island to take you there on his boat "Strait Lady".
History
Fully rigged ship built at Newcastle UK on 1873. Iron, 1766 tons (a large ship), carrying general cargo including slate, machinery, household items. Hit the rocks on 17th September 1875 while seeking shelter on the western side of the Furneaux group.
Dive Conditions
A most spectacular dive. The wreck covers a large area, ranging from close to the surface near the reef (where the bow is), down to 18 metres deep at the stern 80 metres away on the north west side.
The site can be very exposed, particularly to the west and south west, but an early dive in Autumn can provide excellent conditions. The water can be crystal clear and the sea growth is excellent in the area. (Huge crayfish).
General Comments
The wreck is extremely broken up, but large pieces of hull provide lots of nooks and crannies to explore. There are many pieces of crockery and other items on site (which should be left there for other divers. The wreck is protected by law and locals keep an eye out). Look for the crystal decanter. Large numbers of ink pots, wine bottles etc were originally on the site, some of which are now in the small museum at Emita on Flinders Is.
Bulli
Location
Northern end of West Cove, Erith Island, Kent Group, Bass Strait
The easiest way to get there is to get Jim Luddington on Flinders Island to take you there on his boat "Strait Lady".
History
A 540 ton iron steamer built in 1872 in England. A coal carrier, delivering coal from Newcastle (NSW) to Launceston. Struck rocks in Bass Strait on 28th June 1877, and sought shelter in the channel between Deal and Erith Islands. Sank just off the beach, with masts etc still above surface. The crew went to the lighthouse and were eventually taken to Melbourne
Dive Conditions
A unique dive. Very attractive situation, beautiful blue waters in a sheltered channel. Probably one of the best dives in Tasmanian waters if you can get there. (The Kent Group has excellent diving and at least 2 good wrecks).
The wreck stands proud on the bottom, with most of the hull structure very obvious. Unique photographs can be taken with the prop. in the background for example. The stern is at the channel end at about 16 metres down, with the bow to the south in 13 metres.
There can be a bit of a current between the islands, and exposure is primarily to southerlies.
General Comments
Has been extensively dived by Victorian clubs, so no artefacts, but still a very nice dive. It can be included in a dive trip to the Furneaux group, taking in a vast number of wreck dives. One of the good things about diving in the Furneaux Group is that there is always a calm spot somewhere.
Lake Illawarra
Look to the east side of the second largest gap in the Tasman Bridge! (Need permission from the Marine Board)
Not as deep as you may have thought: you can get to the cabins with a tank for a worthwhile dive.
I have not dived it for some years, but when I did there were still items such as the mast-head light there.
The cabins were amazing: there were still toiletry items in cabinets and blankets and bed linen floating about.
Nord
Probably the best known wreck dive in southern Tasmania. (Details on this site
are provided on the pages to be found by clicking here)
Shipwreck sites known about but not located....
- Enchantress
- Offley
- Actaeon
- Thuraka
- Emu
