Having scrubbed a dive at Flinders after less than a minute because the visibility was so terrible, we headed over to Rye, to take our chances there, and it was much, much better!

Lots to see, including Gunn's Leatherjackets, our first Bridled Leatherjacket, a couple of Big-bellied Seahorses, a Sweet Caratasoma nudibranch, tiny Bullseye fish, Long-finned Pike, juvenile Moonlighters, Southern Blue Whiting, a good-sized school of Australian Herring, a Hermit Crab, Magpie Perch, Southern Hulafish, and a Pygmy Leatherjacket that was trying to scare off a competitor by inflating its belly, and of course, lots of Goatfish. When we got out to the Eivion we also saw several Senator Wrasse, and a couple of adult Moonlighters lurking in the shadows under the wreck.

Very warm water, and so much to see, meant that this was a long dive, just on 100 minutes, long enough that my GoPro's battery went flat just as we reached the Eivion.

So glad we weren't put off by having to squeeze back into our wet wetsuits, and didn't drive home after getting out of the water at Flinders!

 

 

About 9 pm, incoming SS Penola ( 500 tons) struck and ran down City of Launceston which began to settle almost immediately. Passengers and crew transferred with difficulty to Penola. Sunken vessel valued at about 17,000 pounds - not insured. Sold by auction to Barrett, engineer of City of Launceston, who sold to a syndicate but salvage attempts eventually abandoned. Victorian Steam Navigation Board Inquiry held City of Launceston to blame for accident. Two separate Supreme Court actions by the respective owners for damages found in favour of the plaintiff in each case! An appeal by the aggrieved owner of the Penola for a non suit or a new trial was ultimately refused. Eleutheria, lighter, exhibited light at wreck site until it too sank. City of Launceston was the first shipwreck to be declared an Historic Shipwreck under new Victorian legislation. Built for the Melbourne to Launceston Bass Strait run, it was a regular trader across Bass Strait. - See more at: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/shipwrecks/124#sthash.aPC0R645.dpuf

About 9 pm, incoming SS Penola ( 500 tons) struck and ran down City of Launceston which began to settle almost immediately. Passengers and crew transferred with difficulty to Penola. Sunken vessel valued at about 17,000 pounds - not insured. Sold by auction to Barrett, engineer of City of Launceston, who sold to a syndicate but salvage attempts eventually abandoned. Victorian Steam Navigation Board Inquiry held City of Launceston to blame for accident. Two separate Supreme Court actions by the respective owners for damages found in favour of the plaintiff in each case! An appeal by the aggrieved owner of the Penola for a non suit or a new trial was ultimately refused. Eleutheria, lighter, exhibited light at wreck site until it too sank. City of Launceston was the first shipwreck to be declared an Historic Shipwreck under new Victorian legislation. Built for the Melbourne to Launceston Bass Strait run, it was a regular trader across Bass Strait. - See more at: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/shipwrecks/124#sthash.aPC0R645.dpuf

Divers: Kirsty Batchelor, Peter Batchelor

Weather/Sea: Slight sea, 10kts Northerly.
Visibility: 6 Metres.
Water temperature: 20°C.
Maximum depth: 5.1 metres.
Time of entry: 12:55
Duration: 100 minutes.