Swan Wreck

The HMAS SWAN is a River Class Frigate Destroyer Escort built on the 16th of December 1967. Launched at HMA Naval Dockyards in Williamston, Victoria. Twenty months later on the 20th of January 1970 the HMAS SWAN was commissioned and ready to serve the Australian Navy. The HMAS SWAN served for 26 years with the Australian Navy travelling to Australian and international ports mostly in South East Asia, She also served in the Vietnam War escorting the Troop Ship HMAS Sydney. The HMAS SWAN was never put on the gun line. In September 1981 she also visited China. Before the SWAN could be scuttled the environmental and diver safety had to be satisfactory. One of the biggest dangers was the miles and miles of cabling which could have fallen down creating a dangerous web of entaglement for divers. Diver access holes were cut so there are entry and exit points in all areas of the ship. The engine room and the boiler room had to be closed off due to possible entanglement hazards. The biggest environmental problem was the removal of oil and hydraulic fluid in the engine and boiler rooms and the mechanics of the gun turret. The only Dive Operator in Dunsborough who services this site is Cape Dive. Cape Dive is a family owned business with two boats that have regular trips out to this site plus many other sites in the area.