THE LENA DIVE WRECK
by Graeme Olsen
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.
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They were successful in their bid,
and now the Lena is set to be sunk around 5km off
the coast of Bunbury. (NOTE: The Lena was originally
going to be sunk on 14 December 2003, then this
was changed to 4 January 2004. The new date of sinking
is now unknown). It is the first time anywhere in
the world that a seized pirate patagonian toothfish
vessel is to be 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 will also increase
the variety of dive wrecks available. While the
HMAS Swan and HMAS Perth are warships, the Lena
is a fishing vessel, which means there will be large
open spaces to swim through instead of corridors
and rooms. The place where it is being sunk will
also make the dive a little different. About 5km
off Mindalong beach, the Lena will be sunk in about
18 metres of water on a sand bottom.
Some are saying it will be the most
accessible dive wreck in Australia, due in part
to the fact that people with boats will be able
to access it directly (rather than by charter),
making it ideal for amateur divers.
The Lena is currently in it's final
stages of being prepared for sinking. To celebrate
the event, there will be a festival involving street
theatre, flyovers by the Bunbury Microlight Club,
a kite flying display, a band, and more.
Be there.
December 2003
Huge
range of new and used SCUBA equipment available
at eBay!
