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.
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.
The Pillars of Hercules are located on the southern side of Antigua. More specifically, they constitute the entrance to English Harbor. The Pillars of Hercules are actually rocks, carved by weather conditions. It is a spot that any diver would like to visit.
Perth is the capital city of Western Australia, located on the Swan River. The climate here is classified as Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and cool and wet winters. Immerse yourself in the unique combination of stunning natural surroundings, beautiful beaches with clear waters, greenery parklands and outstanding city architecture that attract visitors all year long.
Karangasem Regency is a regency of Bali, Indonesia. The east side of Bali is its place of coverage and the regency seat is Amlapura. Part of this regency is the scuba diving spot of Gili Tepekong.
Perth is the capital city of Western Australia, located on the Swan River. The climate here is classified as Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and cool and wet winters. Immerse yourself in the unique combination of stunning natural surroundings, beautiful beaches with clear waters, greenery park-lands and outstanding city architecture that attract visitors all year long.
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.
The town of Ardrossan hosts two jetties, a large one with a max depth at 15 m/49 ft and a small one with a max depth at 6 m/19 ft. The large one to the south is the grain jetty, the other provides local fishermen with a jetty fishing spot.
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.
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.
The Zanoni Shipwreck, located at 10 nautical miles off the coast of Ardrossan, is one of the well preserved shipwrecks in Australia and one of the most complete 19th century's shipwrecks in 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.
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.
As one of the best wreck dives in Yorke Peninsula of South Australia, the Clan Ranald is an important diving destination and tourist asset which forms part of the Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail. The Clan Ranald sank on January 31st, 1909.
Whyalla is located on the western shore of upper Spencer Gulf, at around 394 km/244 mi in the northwest of Adelaide, in South Australia. The Whyalla Mud Wreck is an easy dive site, with a lot of marine life. Entry is from the beach, right next to the Whyalla Marina.
