The Fascinating World of Shipwreck Diving in New Zealand
New Zealand draws large numbers of tourists every year who come to experience its breathtakingly beautiful national parks likes Fiordland, as well as to enjoy the many outdoor adrenaline-pumping activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving, and jet boating.
Scuba diving is another popular reason to visit New Zealand. With its extensive coastline, diverse marine ecosystems, and clear waters, New Zealand offers a wide range of opportunities for divers.
And what diver doesn’t dream of discovering or at least exploring a shipwreck that’s potentially laden with treasure? While it may be tricky to unearth chests full of gold coins these days, New Zealand does offer up a number of great shipwrecks that can make for a memorable adventure.
Sunken ships tell stories of brave journeys and often tragic tales. It’s a testament to the relentless power of the seas. With its extensive coastline and maritime history, there are several shipwrecks scattered around the country’s waters, providing plenty of fascinating diving experiences in places like Poor Knights Islands, the Bay of Islands, and the Marlborough Sounds. These sites offer not only the chance to explore sunken vessels but also to encounter a wealth of marine life.
Enigmas of the Ocean and Underwater Archaeology
There are countless reasons why divers are drawn to shipwrecks. Shipwrecks often carry with them not only a sense of history but also mystery. Exploring such underwater time capsules allows you to connect with the past and imagine the lives of those who sailed the oceans on these vessels and possibly perished in treacherous seas.
Shipwrecks provide a unique and thrilling environment for divers to explore. Navigating through the ruins of a sunken ship, discovering hidden passages, and encountering marine life such as coral, sponges, and fish that often call wrecks home is a true adventure.
Shipwreck diving is also often about overcoming a challenge, since they often present difficulties in relation to depth, currents, and limited visibility. Divers are drawn to these challenges as they provide opportunities to improve their skills, increase experience, and expand diving capabilities.
There’s an innate human fascination with exploration and discovery, and shipwreck diving definitely allows one to satisfy this curiosity. Each wreck has its own story waiting to be uncovered, and you yourself have the opportunity to feel like a modern-day explorer as you dive into the depths to uncover the secrets of wrecks.
And then there are of course those incredible tales of discovering new shipwrecks filled with ancient coins, gold artifacts, and jewels. Searching for wrecks is hard work and often costs a great deal of time and money to seek out potential treasure hoards.
It’s much like the challenge of how to find the best real money casinos when you think about it. Finding the right wreck can potentially pay off in the millions just as choosing the right online casino can see you hitting the jackpot and forever changing your life.
A Journey into Shipwrecked Past and Lost Treasures
Every so often we hear tales in the news of new shipwrecks being discovered. One of the most recent incredible discoveries was made in 2015 when the three-masted Spanish galleon known as the San Jose was found off the Colombian coast. Said to be the “Holy Grail of shipwrecks”, they are now in the process of recovering the treasure said to be worth billions of dollars.
While New Zealand may not have shipwrecks laden with treasure of this magnitude, there are still some pretty fascinating wrecks to explore. Popular diving spots in New Zealand include Poor Knights Islands located off the Tutukaka Coast in the North Island.
Bay of Islands also offers a variety of dive sites, including reefs, wrecks, underwater caves, and marine reserves. Not every shipwreck is the same of course, which makes exploring each and every one of New Zealand’s shipwrecks a unique experience.
HMNZS Canterbury was a navy vessel which was intentionally sunk in 2007 to create an artificial reef and dive site. It lies off the coast of the Bay of Islands and is accessible to certified divers. The Rainbow Warrior was a Greenpeace ship sunk by French intelligence agents in Auckland Harbor in 1985.
Rainbow Warrior tells a story of resilience, the wreck later refloated and scuttled off the coast of the Cavalli Islands, where it now serves as an artificial reef and dive site.
Tui and Waikato Wrecks are two navy frigates that were sunk off the coast of Tutukaka in the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. They offer excellent diving opportunities, with clear waters and abundant marine life. Waikato is actually one of the largest accessible wreck dives in the country.
The SS Wairarapa was a steamer that ran aground on Great Barrier Island in 1894, resulting in one of New Zealand’s worst maritime disasters. There were survivors which were rescued by local Māori. Parts of the wreck are still visible along the island’s coastline and are accessible to experienced divers.
While instances of treasure being discovered and recovered from shipwrecks in New Zealand are relatively rare, there have been a few instances. One notable example is the wreck of the General Grant, which sank off the coast of the Auckland Islands in 1866. The General Grant was a large ship carrying a cargo of gold, silver, and other valuables when it struck a reef and sank. Over the years, various salvage attempts were made to recover the treasure.
The Elingamite’s story is tied to a legendary shipwreck loaded with treasures as well. It sank off New Zealand in 1902 with thousands of gold and silver coins onboard, surrounded by fog near the Three Kings Islands. Its tale is one of disaster, lost wealth, and the lasting temptation of elusive treasure. In 1987, a group of divers discovered a cache of gold coins from the wreck, sparking renewed interest in the site, but there have been divers who have lost their lives seeking out the wreck’s treasures.
Guidance for Aspiring Underwater Archaeologists
Diving on shipwrecks can be just as challenging and dangerous as it is adventurous and exciting. Edward Harper learned this lesson the hard way when he died of heart failure from diving too frequently and for long durations trying to recover treasure from the Elingamite wreck mentioned earlier.
Before attempting shipwreck dives, make sure you have sufficient diving experience, particularly in wreck diving and underwater navigation. Take specialty courses if necessary to develop the necessary skills and knowledge required for exploring wrecks.
Research the specific shipwreck site you plan to visit. Understand its history, depth, currents, and any potential hazards. Obtain maps of the wreck if available to help with navigation underwater. Also ensure that weather conditions are suitable for diving, and check tide tables and currents for the dive site. Strong currents or rough seas can significantly impact safety and visibility.
Thankfully, today’s diving equipment is leaps and bounds more advanced than that which was used by early underwater explorers, greatly improving the safety and abilities of today’s divers. Always use the latest dive gear, including things like a dive computer, compass, underwater flashlight, and cutting tool. Consider using a reel or line to aid navigation, especially when swimming inside wrecks.
Always dive with a buddy, especially on wreck dives where potential hazards are increased. Maintain close communication and awareness of each other’s whereabouts throughout the dive. Take time to also care about the natural environment, avoiding damaging not only the wreck itself but also the marine life that often lives alongside it. Leave nothing behind except bubbles and take only photographs, and the occasional gold coin of you happen to be so lucky.
If you’ve got the itch to dive into New Zealand’s fascinating ocean history, just keep in mind the need to be responsible. It’s vital to get the right training, earn your diving certifications, and always stick to the local laws and regulations. Treat shipwrecks as precious historical sites and do not touch or take anything unless it’s allowed. Your best bet might be to join dives with experienced professionals who care about protecting these sites
You could also really make a difference by helping maintain the secret gems beneath the ocean. There are various organizations out there looking for volunteer help from ordinary citizens just like you, allowing you the chance to work alongside pros collecting and sorting data..
As you dive beneath the seas, remember that the most valuable finds aren’t often the gold and silver coins, but instead the tales and history recovered by these sunken ships. So suit up fellow thrill-seekers and get ready to plunge into New Zealand’s enticing world of underwater treasures that eagerly await your arrival.
