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.
Little Bay is a coastal suburb of Sydney, at about 14 km/9 mi in the south-east of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). Little Bay beach nestles between headlands to the south and north, providing with a good shelter from prevailing sea conditions. The SS Kelloe is located at about 1.3 km/0.14 mi off the suburb of Little Bay.
Pulau Tiga is located at 48 km/30 mi in the south of Kota Kinabalu and became well known due to the "Survivor" series, hosting the setting of "Survivor Borneo", the first American season of the show. Scuba diving in Pulau Tiga is open to all levels of divers and is a prime location for macro lovers and underwater photography. The spot is believed to have been formed by the eruption of several mud volcanoes and is at 100 m/328 ft above sea level.
Pemba Island, the second of Zanzibar Island complex, is part of Tanzania and the nearest point of the country to the equator. Due to its particular geographical position, Pemba Island offers mild weather conditions and warm climate all year round. These conditions make Pemba a super scuba diving destination worldwide.
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.
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.
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.
The Wallaroo Jetty is one of Australia's longest jetties and is heavily used. Wallaroo is located at around 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.
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.
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.
Seawolves Cove is a rocky spot for scuba diving, located in Marion Bay, Yorke Peninsula. Minimum winter temperatures average around 4°C/39.2°F and the maximum can reach 40°C/104°F during summer.
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 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.
Following the implementation of a Protected Zone around the historic Zanoni shipwreck in 1983, the Australian Department of Fisheries decided to establish a new artificial reef nearby, and acquired an obsolete barge for the purpose.
Whyalla is located on the western shore of upper Spencer Gulf, around at 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, ideal for the fans of spearfishing.
