About Swan Dive WreckThe HMAS Swan dive wreck is one of Western Australias most spectacular artificial reefs. Located near Dunsborough it is a mecca for scuba divers. It took hundreds of volunteers nearly 12 months and more than 10,000 hours of hard labour to prepare the former destroyer escort to be scuttled. Then the with the push of a button, it was over in just two minutes and 53 seconds - but really this was just the beginning of the Swans new life as a world class dive wreck. The Swan was sent to her resting place on Sunday 14th December 1997. A few minutes before 11am in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 people on shore and about 600 spectator craft, a series of shaped charges, strategically placed well below the water line, sent the Swan quickly but gently to the bottom of Geographe Bay. With everything going to plan she was sunk in an upright position some 1.3 nautical miles off Point Piquet (Meelup Beach) near Dunsborough - only a 15 minute boat ride in protected waters. The tower sits in 6 metres of water, while the bottom at 31 metres. The Swan Dive Wreck has a minor list to her left side making it a classic and interesting ship wreck. Only 24 hours after the sinking, fish life were present. The wreck now has an abundance of marine life and is rapidly establishing itself as a bountiful artificial reef. The project was by far the biggest of its type ever undertaken in Australia. Had it not been for the support of Governments at all levels from Commonwealth, to State and the Shire of Busselton, the diving community of Australia would not have such a fine dive site. Since she was scuttled thousands of people from all over Australia and the world have dived her. Already she is establishing herself as an extremely successful artificial reef and dive site of world renowned. Anyone that has dived the Swan can honestly say its mind blowing and diving at its very best! You can dive the Swan too! A number of commercial operators offer dive tours to the Swan Dive Wreck and other key diving locations in the Capes Region. For those wishing to dive the Swan from a private boat there is an access permit needed. A small fee is payable, the money raised goes towards the cost of ongoing maintenance of moorings, navigation lights and the site. On purchasing your permit, you will be issued with the guidelines for the use of moorings and diving the site. Please use the moorings that have been placed around the site; anchoring is not permitted for safety reasons. |