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.
Zanzibar Island overlooking the Indian Ocean is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, in East Africa. The proximity to the equator creates very pleasant air and water temperatures, helping to thrive a very rich and wide biodiversity in the Island's water. These conditions make Zanzibar a perfect scuba diving spot.
Adelaide, the liveliest city in Australia, is the capital of South Australia state. The city is situated on the Adelaide Plains and more specifically at the north side of Fleurieu Peninsula. The city is built next to Torrens River and is surrounded by the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf St Vincent
Lake Michigan, the second largest of the Great Lakes of North America by volume and the third largest by surface area, is actually the only one located entirely within the United States. With its basin conjoining with that of Lake Huron to the east and having the same surface elevation, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are technically a single lake. The large size of the Lakes and the fact that they are prone to sudden and harsh storms increases the risk of water travel and has led hundreds of ships to their end.
Kurnell is a suburb in southern Sydney, at about 22 km/14 mi in the south of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). Kurnell is on the southern headland of Botany Bay, just opposite the suburb of La Perouse. Kurnell boasts some of Sydney’s top dive sites.
One of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea with emerald waters and lush nature is Zakynthos Island. Located on the west coast of Greece and being the third largest island in the Eptanisa complex, the "Flower of the East" as the Venetians used to call it, boasts amazing white sandy beaches, unique natural beauty and is also the prime nesting area for the endangered Caretta caretta sea turtles.
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.
Wedge Island is located at the southeast of Port Lincoln with a surface of about 10 km²/3.86 mi², in the southeast of Australia. Being the largest of the small Gambier Islands Group, the Wedge island is located in the southern part of the Eyre and Yorke Peninsula, in South Australia, at the entrance to Spencer Gulf.
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.
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.
Ardrossan Barge is the ideal location for spearfishing fans. The Ardrossan barge was sunk on purpose at the southeast of the town back in 1984 in order to replace access to the historic Zanoni shipwreck site.
Stenhouse Bay is a small settlement at the southern end of the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, on the eastern side of Innes National Park. A wide variety of fish species can be caught off beaches in the park or the Stenhouse Bay Jetty.
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.
Aagot was a three masted square rig sailing ship built by Dobie & Company and was launched on 1 June 1882. She was wrecked on Wardang Island on October 11th, 1907.
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.
