Who'd have though the HMAS Canberra is just Australia's second artificial reef? I suppose when you have the Great Barrier Reef in your backyard the thought of artificial reefs is rather ho-hum.So what is Australia's first? The HMAS Swan, sunk in 1997 after 26 years of service with the Australian Royal Navy. She was laid to rest at 30 meters in Geographe Bay.
The Geographe Bay Artificial Reef Sociey took the project a step further and persuaded the government to declare an "exclusion" zone around the site. The zone measures 500 meters in diameter and imposes restrictions on fishing, hunting, and the number of vessels moored at any one time.
Check out Jane Wilkinson's first-hand account of diving the wreck including photos and more back story. Should you decide to Goolge the HMAS Swan you'll find a (different) vessel of the same name which served in World War II.
1. I wish the U.S. Navy would do the same along both coasts with some of the WW-II era mothballed fleet that is just rusting away in San Francisco bay and many other harbors.
Posted at 7:48AM on Dec 10th 2006 by Jon on@b5media.com