Cape Dive / SWAN Diving Adventures runs dive charters to the SWAN - the first prepared wreck of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. After 10 years the Swan Wreck is now home to a large range of marine life. All level of divers are catered for. Cape Dive operate a 10.5 metre and a 6 metre vessel, running daily charters to the SWAN Wreck (See prices and schedule for further information on Cape Dive's SWAN Charters).

Booking is essential to avoid disappointment, and the best diving months are from November to May. Cape Dive does operate in June and September/October but it is weather dependent. Charters are subject to minimum numbers.

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.

On December 14th 1997, the HMAS SWAN ended her 26 years with the Australian Royal Navy. Her final resting place now lies in a bed of sand, in 30 metres of water, off the South West Coast of Western Australia in Geographe Bay, creating an artificial reef for corals and marine life.

The SWAN has now become a popular dive site; being the first ship in the Southern Hemisphere to be sunk as a dive wreck. Measuring 112m in length, 21m in height and 13m in width, she is truly a spectacular site. Situated 1.3 nautical miles off Point Piquet, Meelup, at a latitude of 115.06'2" East and a longitude of 33.33'2" South.

The State Government, due to the Geographe Bay Artificial Reef Society, has established an exclusion zone of 500m around the ship which prohibits any fishing or hunting of any kind. There is also restricted access of recreational vessels, 6 at one time (one boat per mooring) and no anchoring allowed to protect damage to the reef and divers. Mooring passes available for sale at Dive shops and Tourist Bureau.

Their is an abundance of sea life taking advantage of the SWAN as their new home. Batfish swim around the Crow's nest, large schools of Bullseyes inhabit many rooms, with King George Whiting and Brim swimming around the hull. The inquisitive Samson Fish give divers an added bonus when looking around the wreck, along with Dhufish, Shaw's Cowfish, Blue Devil, Sweep, Talma; the list goes on. Not only is there fish, plant life is starting to grow on and around the wreck with several Flowering Soft corals, Seagrass, Hydroids and Coral Formations. There is more and more growth every year.

The growth is being monitored by Marine Biologists and their reports of the many different fish species.

Geographe Bay in the Margaret River Wine Region is the setting, Dunsborough W.A. the town South of Perth where a diving frenzy is happening. Divers are coming from all ends of Australia and overseas to dive on this wreck. No-one really could have fathomed the response and fuss the SWAN could bring to this fairly sleepy little town.

"Why the attraction you ask, what is so special about this dive?" Well our answer is first of all divers are gaining the unique experience of seeing a wreck slowly growing into a breeding ground for fish, corals and other marine life, secondly the extensive work done on this wreck pre-scuttling was done with diver safety at the utmost importance, thirdly it is only a short boat ride to the site and sits in the protected Geographe Bay making it "DIVABLE" almost 10 months of the year.

It is a special dive and even though there is a certain amount of seriousness attached to the dive being in 30m of water and safety made a main priority on our charters, we never forget the main aim is to have LOTS of FUN !!! Don't miss this one, it is definitely worth while and there's options for everyone, if you would like any information please do not hesitate to contact us here at Cape Dive and we'll endeavour to help with any information needed.