Igara

A Cape-sized bulk ore carrier similar to the Igara

The Igara was an Italian owned Cape-sized (140,000 DWT) bulk ore carrier on a voyage from Vitoria to Muroran with a cargo of 127,718 DWT of Brazilian iron ore. After passing through the Sunda Strait, she struck an uncharted rock in the South China sea about 190 nautical miles from Horsborough Lighthouse, off Mendarik Island, on March 11, 1973.

The vessel remained afloat and continued her voyage whilst taking on water until her bow settled submerged on the sea bottom in 36m of water about 70 nautical miles from Singapore. She settled with her entire stern section sticking out of the water.

The following day, 27 of the 38 crew abandoned ship, and were picked up in their lifeboats by passing vessels. The master and 10 crew stayed on board until March 19 when she began to break across hold no.1.

Salvors used explosives to cut through the ship at hold no. 1 and the entire stern section of the ship which included the superstructure and engines was towed to Japan where a new forward section was attached and she was renamed the Eraclide.

At the time of her sinking the Igara was the largest ever single marine insurance loss in maritime history valued at over US$25M.

In recent years the iron ore price reached levels which made the salvaging of the ore economically viable and the holds were opened and the ore removed with vaccum lifts.

The Wreck



Dive 1
Date: 21/10/2007
Max: 31m
Avg: 15m
BT: 26mins
RT: 51mins
BG: 21/35
Deco: EAN50



Dive 2
Date: 21/10/2007
Max: 35m
Avg: 20m
BT: 26mins
RT: 51mins
BG: 21/35
Deco: EAN50

Seven Skies

The Seven Skies

The Seven Skies was a 261m 97,950 DWT Swedish AFRAmax Super Tanker, built in 1965 as one of 34 built by Kockums between 1965 and 1979. In 1969, she suffered an explosion and sank east of Tioman Island, not far from Anambas Islands.

The location of the Seven Skies can make visiting her an interesting experience, she sank at location: [2°38' N, 105°13.5' E] approx 220km NE of Singapore. Whilst there have been numerous disputes; in 2005 it was finally resolved that the wreck is in Indonesian waters meaning liveaboards need to clear Indonesian customs before visiting the wreck. The Indonesian Navy is known to patrol the site and have impounded vessels in the past.

The Wreck

A schematic of an AFRAmax Super Tanker

The wreck is huge; sitting perfectly upright in 67m of water with the entire superstructure intact, but tanker section has largely collapsed. The top of the funnel is in approx 25m, the bridge and superstructure at 30m, and then various decks and structures to explore down to the main deck level at 45m.

The superstructure of an AFRAmax Vessel

Main attractions include the bridge, the pool, the explosion damage and many easy swimthroughs and penetrations. Almost the entire superstructure is accessible and it is possible to enter the engine room from the main deck at about 48m after passing by the workshops and lavatories.

Another excellent penetration is descending down the opening next to the pool on the first deck into the boiler room. In this huge room ringed by staircases and containing the main boilers crushed by the water pressure.

Our Model of the Seven Skies:

Our Model at Sea

External view of the Wreck

Wreck Cross-section

The Dives
Dive 1
Date: 20/10/2007
Max: 44m
Avg: 22m
BT: 21mins
RT: 54mins
BG: 21/35
Deco: EAN50

Dive 2
Date: 20/10/2007
Max: 46m
Avg: 24m
BT: 22mins
RT: 55mins
BG: 21/35
Deco: EAN50

GUE Extravaganza 2007

GUE instructor Gideon Liew and his Living Seas staff organized the first GUE Annual Dive Extravaganza 2007 aboard the Black Manta a large and pretty luxurious live aboard based out of Singapore.

Living Seas had been working on this trip for several months and organized all the logistics, including delivery of helium and oxygen bottles and the gas mixing. Over last several years, in no small part due to Gideon’s efforts, a sizable group of GUE trained divers has formed in the region. It’s remarkable that Living Seas was able to fill just about the entire boat with GUE trained divers including ourselves from Australia and one from Shanghai.

Us here seen giving the traditional "PerthBoys" Salute.

Certainly the best thing about it was the fact that many people on board knew or had dived with one another before and everyone was diving to the same high standard.

Read full reports on this trip: here and here

Here is some of our footage:

Saxon Ranger

Images courtesy of www.westcoastdivepark.com.au

This 400 tonne former fishing vessel was the first purpose sunk dive wreck in the Perth metropolitan area.

The Saxon Ranger (formerly Atlantic Seal) was built around 1960 in Grimsby, England at a cost of 100,000 pounds to work as a side trawler in the North Atlantic ocean. The vessel is 37m in length with a beam of 9m and hosted a crew of 17.

Owned by the British Trawler Company, arrangements were made in 1974 for the vessel to be used to develop a southern fishery off Albany. It was later sold and arrived in Australian waters working around Tasmania and Albany WA with occasional trips into the Antarctic. The first catch of 52 tonne of fish was blockaded by unions and had to be hand filleted on board.

Continually plagued with 'bad luck' the vessel suffered numerous breakdowns, broke moorings, ran out of fuel, and was finally salvaged from the shores of Rockingham after a gale in 2003.

Considered a jinx, the Saxon Ranger now lies in 18m of water amongst other sunken wrecks on the seabed floor of the West Coast Dive Park.

Source: http://www.westcoastdivepark.com.au/

The Dive

Date: 13/10/2007
Max: 18m
Avg: 14m
BT: 45mins
RT: 52mins
BG: EAN32
Deco: EAN50