The island serves as a natural breakwater, protecting the former grain port of Port Victoria from ocean currents. The waters around Wardang are popular with recreational divers because of the opportunities for wreck diving. The Songvaar wreck represents one of the eight wrecks identified in the spot. The Songvaar is a 26 m/85 ft long 3-masted iron sailing vessel, built in 1884 and located at 9 m/29 ft below sea surface.
April 14th 1912 is best known for the sinking of the Titanic, however on the same day this Norwegian ship didn’t escape Titanic’s similar destiny. While anchoring between Point Pearce and Wardang Island, the Songvaar’s captain left the ship, fully loaded with grain, for official business in Adelaide. On board, his chief mate saw dark clouds on the horizon and dropped a second anchor in preparation for a storm.
The storm blew out, the tide dropped and the Songvaar sat onto the second anchor, which pierced the hull. With decks awash and the wheat swelling, the Songvaar settled “peacefully and quietly on the bottom” (Chronicle, April 20 1912) standing fully upright. Several salvage attempts have failed and the vessel which had become a hazard to shipping was later blown up.
The Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail includes a waterproof booklet for underwater use, plaques adjacent to each of the eight shipwrecks and six land-based interpretive signs located at Port Victoria. Check out the Maritime Museum for artifacts of some early dives.
Victoria is the second-smallest state of Australia. It borders with New South Wales to the north and Tasman Sea to the east. The unique combination of spectacular coastline, pristine beaches, numerous national parks, dense forests and mountains attract visitors all year long and offer a plethora of activities to sport lovers.
North Beach is also a favorite swimming and beach-combing destination, and one of the few beaches around Wallaroo Jetty and its wider area. The North Beach picnic area also provides extensive under cover shelter. Wallaroo is located at 155 km/96 mi in the northwest of Adelaide.
Famous for its proximity with the tropical islands, lush forests and Mount Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the state of Sabah located in Borneo. It is located on the west coast of Sabah within the West coast Division. Formerly known as Jesselton, it enjoys a tropical rainforest climate and lies by the coast overlooking the South China Sea and bordered by the Crocker range which is home to Mount Kinabalu.
Kailua Kona is located in the North Kona District, Hawaii. It is a lively seaside town with sunny tropical weather all year long and lies at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano.
Inhambane is a city in the southern Mozambique, lying on the Inhambane Bay at 470 km/292 mi north-east of Maputo. Known as Terra De Boa Gente (Land of Good People), it is one of the oldest and prettiest settlements in Mozambique. The landscape surrounding Inhambane is dominated by vast coconut palms where an architectural atmosphere, rich in diverse history dominated the spot's character.
Prickly Pear Cays are a pair of uninhabited islands, the Prickly Pear East and the Prickly Pear West. They are about at 9.6 km/6 mi in the north-western of Anguilla. Anguiila belongs to the Leeward Islands in Caribbean Sea. It is located on the north of Saint Martin and on the west of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Built in 1873, Edithburgh Jetty is 170 m/557 ft long and 12 m/39 ft wide, and it is considered to be the most popular dive on the Yorke Peninsula, at 250 km/155 mi in the west of Adelaide in South Australia.
Wool Bay Jetty is another wonderful diving site located approximately 2.5 hours away from Adelaide, on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
Wardang Island, also known as Wauraltee Island, is a small island of 20 km²/7.7 mi² in the Spencer Gulf, at 11 km/6 mi in the northwestern coast of Port Victoria on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.
Point Turton is a delightful town which overlooks the calm waters of Hardwicke Bay. The town is situated only two and a half hours from Adelaide and it offers miles of white sand beaches, reefs for walking and shell collecting opportunities.
Whyalla is located on the western shore of upper Spencer Gulf, at 394 km/244 mi in the northwest of Adelaide, in South Australia. Dolphins and bird-life often frequent the waters, while the rocky coastline is a popular destination for fishing tours and spearfishing.
Willyama is a thrilling spot with a wreck for scuba diving, located in Marion Bay, Yorke Peninsula. This 2705 tons of steamer met its fate in 1897 at Rhino's Head Marion Bay. A mast sticks out of the water and the rest of the wreck lies scattered around the bottom.
Marion Bay is on the doorstep to some of the best beaches in Australia that host a rich maritime history. The main surf break at Pondalowie Bay is a popular quality wave. The wave is a combination of left and right peak that break over a reef and sandy bottom.
'Chinamans' is a powerful and hollow left hand reef break, located close to Marion Bay at Yorke Peninsula. The spot breaks in shallow water and washes over a rock shelf. This becomes a high quality wave that is suitable only for skilled surfers and caution should be used when surfing here.
