A diver’s paradise boasting incredible conditions, Victoria is home to many wrecks, some very old, and one, HMAS Canberra, very new. Whether you are a fairly inexperienced diver, or if you have been diving since the days before the BC was invented, you’ll enjoy wreck diving in Victoria. Here is just a brief sampling of what the area has to offer.
The William Salthouse - Victoria Dive Sites
One of the oldest shipwrecks Victoria has to offer, William Salthouse was built in 1824, and sunk in November of 1841 while enroute to Port Phillip Bay with a load of cargo from Canada, which was valued at £12,000, a small fortune for that time. After striking a rock off Port Nepan, the ship began taking on water and quickly became unmanageable. It was run aground at Pope’s Eye Sandbar, and the crew escaped with their lives, the ship’s sails and documents, and some personal belongings.
By the morning after she struck the rock, William Salthouse had settled on the seabed and was covered in six feet of water. The cargo, which consisted of barrels containing flour, salted beef, salted pork, and salted fish, plus champagne and hard cider, whiskey and stout, iron bars, nails and pine boards, and more, was mostly unsalvageable.
Today, the wreck of the William Salthouse, which was a 90 foot long barque constructed in Liverpool, is remarkably intact. Discovered in 1982, the ship started to erode once the protective dune she sat in was removed for archaeological studies, and seagrass was planted in the area to help protect the wreck.
Resting in just 12 meters of water, the shipwreck is protected by law, and only charters with a special permit may bring divers to see her. There is no anchoring allowed, and absolutely no gathering of artifacts is permitted.
HMAS Canberra - Victoria Dive Sites
The magnificent wreck of the HMAS Canberra is Victoria’s first artificial reef. This amazing aircraft carrier is in shallow water, with different aspects available at varying depths. The masts are in just seven meters of water, with the decks accessible between ten and eighteen meters. The ship’s keel rests on the seabed at 33 meters, and the entire ship, which is massive, takes several dives to fully explore.
Scuttled in 2009 and opened to divers on December 5th the same year, the Canberra was prepared for divers in advance. You’ll find massive entryways all along the decks and in the ship’s hull, which allow for safe penetration into the galley, bridge, engine rooms, and more. An exceptional new wreck, and quickly becoming covered with growth, Ex-HMAS Canberra is a one-of-a-kind dive. It is a major attraction, and with four moorings and the ability to accommodate sixty divers at a time, the site is busy!
Eliza Ramsden - Victoria Dive Sites
The Eliza Ramsden was carrying only ballast when she hit Corsair Rock and sank on July 24 of 1875. Fortunately, the captain and crew were able to safely abandon ship before she went to the bottom, and though local fishermen tried to salvage the vessel, their efforts were unrewarded, as the rudder was too badly damaged to allow for effective steering.
Between 1875 and the 1960’s, the ship’s three masts emerged from the water, and were marked with navigational lights, and a wreck buoy. Later, they were blown up with explosives, as shipping had increased markedly and the masts presented a hazard to navigation.
Today, the remnants of this noble 151 foot long iron barque are part of Victoria’s Underwater Shipwreck Discovery Trail. She rests in just 21 meters of water, and her bow, which is covered in marine life, is accessible at 14 meters.
While these are but a few of Victoria’s wreck dives, each is wonderful in its own way. Be sure to book your vacation in advance, as these popular sites, particularly William Salthouse, which is still eroding, will not be here forever.