Dive 220

13 october 2001


Dunsborough WA
Wreck of the Swan


Max depth 23.5 m
Dive time 38 min
Bottom time 32 min
Safety stop(s) 3 min @ 9 m, 3 min @ 5 m

Buddy: Antonietta Mira

Great to be back on the Swan. Divemaster Claire of Cape Dive gave us a guided tour at the main deck level (22 m) from the bow along the port side, into the main walkway, out at the stern, and back up the superstructure to the crow's nest.

Now 4 years after the sinking there is a good growth of soft corals on the port side and a lot of ascidians on the starboard side. The large Solitary Ascidians (plumbing shapes) which once dominated have been crowded by colonial ascidians, mainly the blueish sea tulips.

Fish everywhere - cowfish, Sergeant baker just sitting on the decks, sweetlips, footballers,Talma, blackheaded puller, bicolor scalyfin, Tarwhine, queen snapper. There is now a school of 16 batfish around the crow's nest and a horde of 200-odd globefish at the bow.

At the crow's nest we took a good look at the false Tasmanian blennies in the tubes, and watched the batfish glide shyly around.


 
temp 17°C
rubber Radiator, 5mm titanium wetsuit, hood;  shivering at end
weight 17 lb (12 integ + 5 belt); OK
tank aluminium 11.5 l shop tank
BC SeaQuest Pro QD
air consumed 126 bar
RMV 14.8 l/min