Dive News - Bay of Islands - New Wreck!
All eyes turned to New Zealand's Bay of Islands where, in early November, the HMNZS Canterbury became the world's latest purpose-sunk wreck.
After months of getting the Canterbury cleaned and prepared in time for the sinking, and continuous delays due to bad weather, it must have come as something of a relief when the beautiful "Leander" class frigate was eventually towed into the Bay of Islands' Deep Water Cove. On 3 November 2007, New Zealanders watched in awe as the HMNZS Canterbury was sent to the bottom of the sea to become a new dive site for the region. This ship is now New Zealand's fourth artificial reef and has now become a stunning dive site.
Deep Water Cove
Deep Water Cove is a feature of the Cape Brett Peninsula, which forms the southern arm of the Bay of Islands. It is about 28 km by sea from Opua, gateway to the Bay of Islands. Marine experts chose the site because of its sheltered aspect: a flat, sandy bottom, and relative lack of tidal currents.
The approved sinking location at Manawahuna is in the shadow of Rakaumangamanga, one of the three sacred mountains of Ngapuhi. Rakaumangamanga which forms one of the points in a triangle linking Easter Island, the Ascension Islands and New Zealand was used by the Maori people for navigation long before Captain Cook ever discovered New Zealand. Manawahuna Bay lies near the tip of the peninsula, named Rakaumangamanga by Kupe a thousand years ago, and renamed Cape Brett by Captain Cook, 800 years later.
D-Day
The third of November 2007 was a hot, sunny day with a gentle breeze blowing across the bay. By early afternoon the crowd was massive; boats of all descriptions - from canoes to car ferries, rowboats to galleons - had come to watch the spectacle. Eventually an announcement was made that a signal would be given indicating that one minute remained until detonation. And then almost immediately after the announcement, she blew up!
As quickly as it happened it was all over - within three minutes Canterbury had sunk to the bottom of Deep Water Cove. In no time the crowds dispersed. There was nothing to see except a slick of diesel oil that floated where the Canterbury had once proudly floated. We watched police divers drop into the water to check on the explosives and give the all clear. After 90 minutes they surfaced with bad news: visibility was zero and the explosives couldn't be safely checked, so diving was off until the navy was called in the following week.
To really get to know this wreck you need to give yourself the time and opportunity to conduct several dives on her. She won't disappoint you, she is easy and very safe to explore.
Sidebar: The HMNZS Canterbury, a History
HMNZS Canterbury was a "Leander" class frigate originally built in Scotland for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and commissioned in 1971. In 2005 Canterbury F421 was decommissioned after a successful tour of duty, which included the Falklands Conflict in 1982.
Canterbury accommodated 240 officers and rated seamen. She was powered by two steam turbines driving twin shafts, which produced a whopping 30,000 hp. HMNZS Canterbury is the last steam powered frigate owned by the New Zealand Navy.
Specifications
- Length: 113.4m
- Beam: 13m with a draught of 5.6m
- Displacement: 3,182 tonnes
- Maximum speed: 30 knots
- Armaments: Twin 4.5-inch forward gun, heavy machine guns, Sea Cat missile system, and anti-submarine torpedoes
Click here for our New Zealand information and itineraries, or contact us for details of how to arrange your holiday to see this new dive spectacle.