The waters around Vancouver, BC, are home to some spectacular dive sites, many of which have been deployed courtesy of the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. One of the most exciting new additions to the area’s artificial reef program is the HMCS Annapolis, a 113 meter destroyer that is currently in the final stages of preparation for sinking.
The HMCS Annapolis: Features and Specifications
Laid down in Halifax in 1961 and first commissioned in 1964, the HMCS Annapolis served with the Royal Canadian Navy for most of her career, first as part of the Maritime Forces Atlantic, then as part of Maritime Forces Pacific, where she was primarily tasked with training missions.
Decommissioned in 1996 and placed in reserve, she was finally stripped of all weapons and sold to the Artificial Reef Society in 2008. Since then, volunteers have been working doggedly to create what the society is calling the cleanest ship ever sunk. Completely stripping some areas, eliminating all toxins, and carefully cutting entry and exit points for penetration has taken three years of hard work; sinking is slated for early April of 2015.
When the Annapolis was built, she was considered to be one of the most modern ships ever possessed by the RCN, and was equipped with massive steam turbines, huge Sea King helicopters, and a special helicopter deck and hangar to house them. While the hangar will be empty, it and an unusual exterior bridge on the upper deck will be made available to divers as will the rest of the interior spaces.
Temporarily moored near Halkett Bay, where the final touches are being added, the Annapolis is still proud, from a distance looking almost as though she could take off on another mission at a moment’s notice. On closer inspection though, every surface has been prepared to allow anemones and other invertebrates to take hold; within just months of her voyage to her final resting place, the ship will attract all sorts of marine life. Cabinets, pipes, ducting, motors, gears, and anything that might possibly pose a hazard to divers or the environment has been removed and recycled.
The HMCS Annapolis: Proposed Sinking and Marine Life
The proposed sinking site for the Annapolis is at Halkett Bay Marine Park, which is located in Howe Sound. While much of the underwater topography mimics that seen onshore, with steep, rugged slopes and massive rock formations with impressive stature, some areas are relatively shallow, with sandy bottoms and relatively low numbers of resident marine life. Adding the Annapolis to an otherwise barren area will provide additional habitat for animals such as rockfish, crabs, wolf eels, and more. In addition, the Annapolis will be the first developed dive site in the park, which currently offers diving and snorkeling in addition to a wealth of other outdoor recreational activities.
You can get updates about the sinking of the HMCS Annapolis by visiting the Artificial Reef Society’s website. Volunteers are still needed for final preparations, and volunteers will be needed on sinking day, as well. Once the ship is settled, local dive operators plan to offer introductory excursions.