Kirsty and I tried another dive at Quiet Corner, hoping to see an Eagle Ray. Ths was following the advice of a snorkeller we met after our last dive at Ricketts. No Eagle Rays were spotted, and there was very little other fish life seen either. We did see a few Snapper and Zebrafish, a couple of Leatherjackets and Dusky Morwong, but all of the fish seemed to be very timid here - nothing like the normal site where we dive at Ricketts.
There were lots of cracks, crevices, and overhangs, and lots of lush growth on the bottom, so it should have been teeming with life! Quite a disappointment really...
For this dive we had to park on the other side of Beach Road, in one of the side streets. We used our beach trolley to wheel all of our gear down to the path that ran along the waterfont, and locked the trolley to a convenient park bench. It certainly made the relatively long walk a lot easier!
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: 5-10 Kts Northerly. Visibility: 3 - 8 Metres. Water temperature: 18°C. Maximum depth: 4.5 metres. Time of entry: 10:59am Duration: 67 minutes.
