Popular dive wreck celebrates its second year
The ex-HMAS Canberra dive site off the coast of Victoria has celebrated its second birthday, after officially opening to the public in December 2009.
A former warship which served the Australian Navy between 1981 and 2005, the ex-HMAS Canberra was deliberately sunk in 2009 to become an artificial reef and dive site, and now lies approximately 28m under water.
The site was reopened in October 2011 after work was undertaken to address safety issues, including some unsecured hazards and sharp edges.
Parks Victoria Chief Executive Dr Bill Jackson says the wreck offers an interesting and challenging dive for all levels of diver.
“Unlike a lot of other shipwrecks, many of the ex-HMAS Canberra’s original fixtures have been preserved for divers to explore,” said Dr Jackson.
“Divers can explore a large portion of the former warship including flight decks, the bridge, engine rooms, the galley and the accommodation quarters,” he said.
It is expected that the already popular dive site will continue to attract divers from around the world as sea life further develops around the structure.