Team,
I have just finished an article I have been preparing on KwaZulu Natal shipwrecks that might be of interest to some. I can't clearly fit it all in here so attach just a short section below. If anyone would like to recieve the full article, please send me your email address and I'll be happy to return a copy...
regards
Dennis Guichard
e. dennis@dgainternational.co.uk
KwaZulu Natal shipwrecks
The wealth of adventure and marine biodiversity that lay submerged beneath this beautiful stretch of coastline have provided opportunity for exploration since the day King Shaka first paid homage here. These waters we call home will astound you with the sheer spirit of true adventure that is still possible here. Its a magical place where the rhythm of Zulu drums still echo through her tropical valleys. Come see it all for yourself - our kingdom awaits an article by Dennis Guichard
We are very blessed living and diving on the east coast of southern Africa, as the oceans that we call our home remain one of the highest energy coastlines to be found on our blue planet. The expanse of open ocean that extends eastwards toward Australasia and south towards the Antarctic provides us with a near constant barrage of powerful oceanic ground swells, strong standing currents, and southerly weather systems. This is tremendous news of course as all this provides us with a sometimes-ferocious stretch of coastline that has been the downfall of many hundreds of ships as far back as our maritime history can recall.
If its shipwrecks and history youre after, your investigations of this rich coastline will excite you beyond belief. Our little stretch of ocean we call home alone contains a myriad of wrecks and treasures of which even I couldnt completely hope to grasp. There are many famous wrecks of past centuries that you will find recorded in treasure books aplenty, including for some of the following:
· SAO Bento, sunk 22 April 1554 off the notorious Transkei Wild Coast south of KwaZulu Natal, a Portuguese East Indiaman en-route from Portugal to Goa via the Cape of South Africa. Reportedly carried a cargo of gold and silver, of which 5 chests of silver were saved.
· Meliskerk, sunk on 8 January 1943 off Port St Johns on the notorious Transkei Wild Coast south of KwaZulu Natal. Reportedly carried a cargo of bullion which was salvaged at the time of loss.
· Grosvenor, sunk 4 August 1782 near the mouth of the Tezani River 32 km north of Port St Johns whilst en-route from India to the United Kingdom. An English East Indiaman reportedly carrying a cargo of gold, jewels, and precious stones.
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...All this aside, the coastline of KwaZulu Natal is home to numerous wreck dives of mind-blowing proportion, which are ideally located near to commercial launch centres. These provide the modern advanced diver with an opportunity to experience a calibre of wreck diving unlike anything else you would be likely to find elsewhere on our blue planet. Wrecks with a rich and sometimes mysterious past, some still containing treasures aplenty, and all containing species of marine life that remain endemic to KwaZulu Natal shipwrecks harlequin goldies, massive brindle bass reaching over a cracking 2m in length, and hydroids to name a few. During the winter months especially, this stretch of coastline is abuzz with shark, whale, and dolphin activity and its not unusual to have any dive interrupted as massive packs of schooling hammerhead pass above, youre visited by curious ragged tooth shark or dolphins showing off their young. Guitar shark, ribbon tail stingrays, eagle rays, and mantas abound along this coastline to present the opportunity for wreck diving of unbelievable proportion.
Some of the more accessible wrecks along this awesome coastline include for the following:
The Produce - A 119m long Norwegian bulk carrier, weighing in at 15000 tons. She was travelling south from the port of Durban carrying a cargo of molasses when she struck, and ripped open her hull, on the northern Pinnacles of the nearby Aliwal Shoal during rough seas on the 11th August 1974. The crew made a brave attempt to turn the ship around to return towards Durban but the ship was irrevocably doomed and started to sink. The event was witnessed from ashore and a rescue party was launched by local fisherman who managed to heroically rescue all the crew in treacherous conditions, thereby averting any casualties. The ship split in half and quickly came to settle about 500m north of Aliwal Shoal shortly afterwards where today she provides an excellent opportunity for a most interesting dive.
The rusting framework now provides an established residence for a myriad of varied fish species, including her famous yet shy school of dark brindle bass each measuring over 2m in length. The vessel lies on her starboard side on a sand bed at approximately 30 metres, with her bridge section lying merely about 14 metres below the surface. The stern is largely intact although 30 years have inevitably taken their toll on the wreck. Her massive bronzen propeller was sadly commercially salvaged by a local company in recent years, where it was shipped off to the Far East to be sold as scrap metal. Massive outrage surfaced at the time as it was discovered that their initial plan was to simply blast the propeller off her drive shaft, and the company was eventually pressured into cutting the propeller free, and as such preserving the wealth of marine life that calls The Produce home.
There are many opportunities for safe swim-throughs and easy penetration into her massive rear upper deck holds. Moving toward her midship divers can witness the incredible sight of her cleanly sheared body where she tore in half, and many previously internal corridors are accessible for the brave at heart. Opportunity abounds with some massive easily penetrable rear holds that are packed with schools of glassfish and a frequent brindle bass or two. Dropping down onto the sand below at around 27m you will find the remains of her now collapsed midship decks home to many stingrays, lion fish, stone fish, guitar shark, moray eels, and the likes. Swimming 25m or so further forward you will come across the decaying remains of a massive section of the forward holds. This area remains a firm favourite for safe exploratory investigation as one can easily peer into open holds and the remains on the sea bed still house some of her beautiful portholes and fittings. The vessels massive crane stays still reach from here eerily towards the surface, as they bravely fight a loosing battle with time and the ravages of the sea.
Swimming on you will eventually happen upon the forward bow section of the ship. Remarkably preserved in amazing condition this section of the vessel seems immune from decay. Swimming out around the bow section one is struck with the full impact of the vessels actual size as this section of the ship towers upward above you. The bow section contains a massive forward hold that is easily and safely entered by anyone with the courage to swim into this seemingly initial dark space. As the thundering of your heart subsides and your vision adjusts, you find yourself faced with the ships spare propeller in full view in front of you fixed upright against the forward wall. Again the real size of the vessel hits home as you amaze at the four towering blades sitting patiently in your torchlight. This forward hold is also a firm favourite hiding place for the large brindle bass that eternally patrol the wreck.
The Produce is a difficult wreck to visit because of the currents that frequently wash this part of the coastline. As a result its a diving opportunity we jump at whenever we are presented with a few days of slack water. Divers need to be aware of the stinging hydroids that have colonised the wreck, and its the one time we advise divers to wear gloves and if at all possible to avoid touching the wreck, which we strongly advise anyway. Most important is to ensure that one doesnt touch your face during or after the dive as the hydroids, that may have attached to your hands, will leave you will a nasty watering welt for days to come. Also be aware of putting your hands down anywhere during the dive as the wreck is home to many stone and scorpion fish that can cause a nasty sting if inadvertently disrupted.
This is a popular wreck with a heroic past that affords us the most splendid diving opportunities. The sheer size and interest factor that she provides ensures that numerous dives are required merely to grasp the full extent of her size and the opportunities for exploration that are possible here. As a Divemaster I have lead a vast number of dives to this wreck over many years and yet theres still not a visit that goes past that she doesnt continue to amaze with the secrets that she slowly reveals. Shes definitely worthy of inclusion on any list of must-do dives...
edit/edit...
I have just finished an article I have been preparing on KwaZulu Natal shipwrecks that might be of interest to some. I can't clearly fit it all in here so attach just a short section below. If anyone would like to recieve the full article, please send me your email address and I'll be happy to return a copy...
regards
Dennis Guichard
e. dennis@dgainternational.co.uk
KwaZulu Natal shipwrecks
The wealth of adventure and marine biodiversity that lay submerged beneath this beautiful stretch of coastline have provided opportunity for exploration since the day King Shaka first paid homage here. These waters we call home will astound you with the sheer spirit of true adventure that is still possible here. Its a magical place where the rhythm of Zulu drums still echo through her tropical valleys. Come see it all for yourself - our kingdom awaits an article by Dennis Guichard
We are very blessed living and diving on the east coast of southern Africa, as the oceans that we call our home remain one of the highest energy coastlines to be found on our blue planet. The expanse of open ocean that extends eastwards toward Australasia and south towards the Antarctic provides us with a near constant barrage of powerful oceanic ground swells, strong standing currents, and southerly weather systems. This is tremendous news of course as all this provides us with a sometimes-ferocious stretch of coastline that has been the downfall of many hundreds of ships as far back as our maritime history can recall.
If its shipwrecks and history youre after, your investigations of this rich coastline will excite you beyond belief. Our little stretch of ocean we call home alone contains a myriad of wrecks and treasures of which even I couldnt completely hope to grasp. There are many famous wrecks of past centuries that you will find recorded in treasure books aplenty, including for some of the following:
· SAO Bento, sunk 22 April 1554 off the notorious Transkei Wild Coast south of KwaZulu Natal, a Portuguese East Indiaman en-route from Portugal to Goa via the Cape of South Africa. Reportedly carried a cargo of gold and silver, of which 5 chests of silver were saved.
· Meliskerk, sunk on 8 January 1943 off Port St Johns on the notorious Transkei Wild Coast south of KwaZulu Natal. Reportedly carried a cargo of bullion which was salvaged at the time of loss.
· Grosvenor, sunk 4 August 1782 near the mouth of the Tezani River 32 km north of Port St Johns whilst en-route from India to the United Kingdom. An English East Indiaman reportedly carrying a cargo of gold, jewels, and precious stones.
edit/edit...
...All this aside, the coastline of KwaZulu Natal is home to numerous wreck dives of mind-blowing proportion, which are ideally located near to commercial launch centres. These provide the modern advanced diver with an opportunity to experience a calibre of wreck diving unlike anything else you would be likely to find elsewhere on our blue planet. Wrecks with a rich and sometimes mysterious past, some still containing treasures aplenty, and all containing species of marine life that remain endemic to KwaZulu Natal shipwrecks harlequin goldies, massive brindle bass reaching over a cracking 2m in length, and hydroids to name a few. During the winter months especially, this stretch of coastline is abuzz with shark, whale, and dolphin activity and its not unusual to have any dive interrupted as massive packs of schooling hammerhead pass above, youre visited by curious ragged tooth shark or dolphins showing off their young. Guitar shark, ribbon tail stingrays, eagle rays, and mantas abound along this coastline to present the opportunity for wreck diving of unbelievable proportion.
Some of the more accessible wrecks along this awesome coastline include for the following:
The Produce - A 119m long Norwegian bulk carrier, weighing in at 15000 tons. She was travelling south from the port of Durban carrying a cargo of molasses when she struck, and ripped open her hull, on the northern Pinnacles of the nearby Aliwal Shoal during rough seas on the 11th August 1974. The crew made a brave attempt to turn the ship around to return towards Durban but the ship was irrevocably doomed and started to sink. The event was witnessed from ashore and a rescue party was launched by local fisherman who managed to heroically rescue all the crew in treacherous conditions, thereby averting any casualties. The ship split in half and quickly came to settle about 500m north of Aliwal Shoal shortly afterwards where today she provides an excellent opportunity for a most interesting dive.
The rusting framework now provides an established residence for a myriad of varied fish species, including her famous yet shy school of dark brindle bass each measuring over 2m in length. The vessel lies on her starboard side on a sand bed at approximately 30 metres, with her bridge section lying merely about 14 metres below the surface. The stern is largely intact although 30 years have inevitably taken their toll on the wreck. Her massive bronzen propeller was sadly commercially salvaged by a local company in recent years, where it was shipped off to the Far East to be sold as scrap metal. Massive outrage surfaced at the time as it was discovered that their initial plan was to simply blast the propeller off her drive shaft, and the company was eventually pressured into cutting the propeller free, and as such preserving the wealth of marine life that calls The Produce home.
There are many opportunities for safe swim-throughs and easy penetration into her massive rear upper deck holds. Moving toward her midship divers can witness the incredible sight of her cleanly sheared body where she tore in half, and many previously internal corridors are accessible for the brave at heart. Opportunity abounds with some massive easily penetrable rear holds that are packed with schools of glassfish and a frequent brindle bass or two. Dropping down onto the sand below at around 27m you will find the remains of her now collapsed midship decks home to many stingrays, lion fish, stone fish, guitar shark, moray eels, and the likes. Swimming 25m or so further forward you will come across the decaying remains of a massive section of the forward holds. This area remains a firm favourite for safe exploratory investigation as one can easily peer into open holds and the remains on the sea bed still house some of her beautiful portholes and fittings. The vessels massive crane stays still reach from here eerily towards the surface, as they bravely fight a loosing battle with time and the ravages of the sea.
Swimming on you will eventually happen upon the forward bow section of the ship. Remarkably preserved in amazing condition this section of the vessel seems immune from decay. Swimming out around the bow section one is struck with the full impact of the vessels actual size as this section of the ship towers upward above you. The bow section contains a massive forward hold that is easily and safely entered by anyone with the courage to swim into this seemingly initial dark space. As the thundering of your heart subsides and your vision adjusts, you find yourself faced with the ships spare propeller in full view in front of you fixed upright against the forward wall. Again the real size of the vessel hits home as you amaze at the four towering blades sitting patiently in your torchlight. This forward hold is also a firm favourite hiding place for the large brindle bass that eternally patrol the wreck.
The Produce is a difficult wreck to visit because of the currents that frequently wash this part of the coastline. As a result its a diving opportunity we jump at whenever we are presented with a few days of slack water. Divers need to be aware of the stinging hydroids that have colonised the wreck, and its the one time we advise divers to wear gloves and if at all possible to avoid touching the wreck, which we strongly advise anyway. Most important is to ensure that one doesnt touch your face during or after the dive as the hydroids, that may have attached to your hands, will leave you will a nasty watering welt for days to come. Also be aware of putting your hands down anywhere during the dive as the wreck is home to many stone and scorpion fish that can cause a nasty sting if inadvertently disrupted.
This is a popular wreck with a heroic past that affords us the most splendid diving opportunities. The sheer size and interest factor that she provides ensures that numerous dives are required merely to grasp the full extent of her size and the opportunities for exploration that are possible here. As a Divemaster I have lead a vast number of dives to this wreck over many years and yet theres still not a visit that goes past that she doesnt continue to amaze with the secrets that she slowly reveals. Shes definitely worthy of inclusion on any list of must-do dives...
edit/edit...
