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.
Tampa is a big city located near Mexico Gulf, on the west coast of Florida. It is surrounded by two bodies of water that flow into the Gulf of Mexico, offering a subtropical climate, with hot humid days during summer and light freezes during winter.
Midway Reef, also know as Dee Why Wide, consists of a wall that starts at 22 m/72 ft and drops to 36 m/118 ft.
The Illes Medes (in Catalan) or Ilsas Medas (in Spanish) is a wonderful small group of seven islets in the northwest Mediterranean Sea. They are situated east of the coastal town of L'Estartit.
Saona Island is a tropical island that is situated on the southeast tip of the Dominican Republic and is also part of East National Park. It is considered by many to be the earthly paradise. In fact, it is a very popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The island is not accessible by car or airplane, but this is not a problem, as many organised excursions are daily on offer.
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. Over the years, a large number of ships have sunk in the Straits of Mackinac, due to sudden and harsh storms. The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve accommodates more than thirteen shipwrecks. One of them is the Minneapolis wreck.
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.
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.
Port Hughes is located at 171 km/106 mi in the north west of Adelaide, in Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Not far away from Kadina and Wallaroo, Port Hughes Jetty is famous for its abundance of small critters and other photography 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 scuba diving.
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 on the northwestern coast of Port Victoria on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. The island serves as a natural breakwater, protecting the former grain port of Port Victoria from ocean currents.
Wool Bay Jetty is another wonderful diving site located approximately 2.5 hours away from Adelaide, on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.
The Wallaroo Jetty is one of Australia's longest jetties and is heavily used. Wallaroo is around at 155 km/96 mi in the northwest of Adelaide. It was the discovery of copper in the late 1880s that led to the settlement. Wallaroo makes part as one of the three towns which form the Copper Triangle.
Daily Heads is another great surfing spot in Yorke Peninsula, close to Innes National Park and the Marion Bay. Marion Bay is the doorstep to some of the best beaches in Australia that host a rich maritime history.
Wedge Island is located at the southeast of Port Lincoln with a surface of about 10 km²/3.86 mi², at 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 Peninsulas in South Australia at the entrance to Spencer Gulf.
