WRECK SURVEY GROUP LOCATES ANOTHER SHIPWRECK.

The Wreck Survey Group has over the past two months been carrying out a number of dives in the Port William and Berkeley Sound area to try and locate additional shipwreck sites to those that they have already discovered.

On 30th December 2005 and towards the end of our second dive session, divers Iain Thom and Richard Morrison located some iron plating jammed in a deep gully. We had at last found a shipwreck which has subsequently provided us with some great dives but more questions that answers.

Over the past two months and with favourable weather and sea conditions all of us including myself, Pauline Sackett and Ian Stewart have made further dives to carry out a photographic and video survey of the area.

Whilst many people think of shipwrecks as just lying on the seabed fully intact, we normally find the complete opposite in that the ship has been smashed to pieces and is lying on the seabed or jammed into gullies and under ledges. Some of the photographs clearly show this to be the case with this shipwreck. Luckily you can nearly always find some recognisable parts of the ship and so far we have found one anchor, a lot of chain, some 'dead-eyes' (used for rigging), mast bands, and a pair of bollards, one port hole and a large quantity of iron plating complete with rivet holes. What has this told us?

We still have no confirmation of the name of the shipwreck but are hoping that we will solve this mystery very soon.

We do know from the wreckage found that it was an iron sailing ship. The size of the anchor and chain found indicates that it could be up to 1000 tons and the condition of the iron and the amount of marine growth probably dates it between 1870 -1900. Could it be the 'CITY OF AMOY'?

Our aim now is to continue with the photographic/video survey and try and confirm the identification of the shipwreck. Nothing has been removed from the wreck.

The last dive we had on the wreck site really brought home to me personally why I still enjoy diving in the islands after over 40 years. The water was crystal clear, the kelp forest was undulating with the beat of the swell and we had a visit from two very inquisitive female sea lions who continually nudged and nibbled us and generally got in the way especially when we were about to take a photograph. Both Pauline and I agreed after this last dive that it was one of the best ever.