South Australia's most intact dive wreck, a 133-metre guided missile destroyer sitting upright in 30 metres in a marine sanctuary off the Fleurieu.
Region: Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
Skill Level: Advanced
Depth: 5-30m
Water Temperature: 14-21°C
Visibility: 5-18m
Best Time to Dive: Year-round on a dodge (slack) tide, clearest summer to autumn
Marine Life: Colourful sponges and encrusting algae across the hull and superstructure; Schools of bullseyes and old wives in the lee of the bridge and funnels; Sweep and magpie perch drifting over the decks; Southern blue devil and other temperate fish in the shadowed recesses; Leatherjackets picking along the growth; Nudibranchs along the plating for divers working a torch.
Hazards: Depth to 30 metres in cold water, decompression and thermal planning required; Strong tidal current, the wreck should only be dived on a dodge (slack) tide; Interior penetration is an overhead environment, Wreck Diver certification, reels, redundant gas and lights required; Sanctuary zone, a permit and a licensed operator are required and fishing is prohibited; Exposed open-bay site, surface weather regularly affects access.
Facilities: Wirrina Cove Marina, the main charter base with operator boats on site; Marina St Vincent, the nearest launch reference point; Moorings on site within the sanctuary zone, no anchoring.
