South West Life

What do you after you've captured a pirate patogonian toothfish vessel? Blow it up and turn it into a dive wreck of course!

In 2002, somewhere in the Southern Ocean, the Russian fishing vessel the Lena was illegally fishing for Patagonian toothfish in Australian waters, and was caught by the HMAS Canberra. The ship was confiscated and handed over to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

In what is seen as a clever and quick thinking move, the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industry made a bid to secure it with the intention of sinking it and turning it into a dive wreck.

They were successful in their bid, and now the Lena has been sunk around 5km off the coast of Bunbury. It was the first time anywhere in the world that a seized pirate patagonian toothfish vessel was sunk as a dive wreck.

Dive wrecks are big tourist attractions - just ask anyone who's been involved with the HMAS Swan (Dunsborough) and HMAS Perth (Albany) - and the sinking of the Lena is seen as a great chance to tap into the lucrative dive wreck tourism market, as well as expand the range of dive wrecks available in southern Western Australia. It is expected to inject millions of dollars into the Bunbury economy.

The Lena dive wreck has also increased the variety of dive wrecks available. While the HMAS Swan and HMAS Perth are warships, the Lena is a fishing vessel, which means there are large open spaces to swim through instead of corridors and rooms. The place it has been sunk also makes the dive a little different. About 5km off Mindalong beach, the Lena has been sunk in about 18 metres of water on a sand bottom.

Some are saying it is the most accessible dive wreck in Australia, due in part to the fact that people with boats are able to access it directly (rather than by charter), making it ideal for amateur divers.

Check it out.