The Magic agroundThe Wellington Dive Guide
Shipwrecks


Just a note ...

The author of this site supports the protection of our maritime heritage. The following notes are provided as historical references and are not here to aid and abett pillaging of wrecks. Exploring and researching wrecks is fun and you can make contact with a like-minded group of folk at the Maritime Archaeological Association of New Zealand (MAANZ) Inc.

Contents

The shipwrecks, in date of wreck order, are ...

SUBRAON           Wooden Barque            26 OCT 1848
CYRUS             3 masted barque          07 MAR 1874
WELLINGTON        Full-rigged ship         07 MAR 1874
TUI               Iron Steamer             01 NOV 1886

WILLIE MCLAREN    Wooden Barque            05 NOV 1889
GRASMERE          Barque                   25 DEC 1895
HALCIONE          Iron Barque              08 JAN 1896
NAMBUCCA          Wooden Steamer           16 JAN 1905

EMMA SIMS         Auxiliary ketch          18 MAY 1907
WOOLLAHRA         Iron Barque              14 JUL 1907
PENGUIN           Iron screw steamer       12 FEB 1909
DEVON             Steel Steamer            25 AUG 1913

DEFENDER          Wooden Steamer           02 AUG 1918
MAGIC             Auxiliary Schooner       26 MAR 1921
PROGRESS          Iron steamer             01 MAY 1931

SOUTH SEA         Steel Steamer            19 DEC 1942
TEV WAHINE        Turbo-electric vessel    10 APR 1968
YUNG PEN          Taiwanese fishing boat   12 DEC 1982
DEINDA            Ferro-cement Yacht       03 FEB 1992

and now in alphabetical order, we have the ...

Cyrus:

Vessel:
Three masted barque of 317 tons, built at Prince Edward Island in 1874.
Length 119 ft, Beam 27 ft, Depth 15 ft.

Site:
Lies 60m off shore on the west side of Owhiro Bay. In 5m of water on a rock and gravel bottom. Visibility 2-8m.

Incident:
On 7 March 1874 was blown up on rocks during a terrific gale while sailing from Wellington to Australia in ballast. 50m to the west the Wellington was being wrecked at the same time.

Condition:
Virtually nothing identifiable remains, however close inspection of the sea floor has revealed pieces of copper sheath, nails or brass. Gold and silver coins, and jewellery have also appeared.

Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area, easily accessible. A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.


Defender: Defender Link

Vessel:
Wooden steamer of 109 tons, built in Australia in 1901.
Length 118 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 7 ft.

Site:
20m off the north west end of Mokopuna Island, Somes Island. In 4-7m of water on a sand and mud bottom. Visibility about 3m.

Incident:
On 2 August 1918, caught fire at Kings Wharf with 1132 cases of motor spirit aboard. She was towed clear of the wharf and drifted across to Somes Island where she exploded and sank.

Condition:
Parts of her wooden hull are still semi-intact. Scattered wreckage includes winches, bollards, anchors, a drum of cable and a selection of engine room tools.

Diveability:
Easy access, interesting site - a good, safe dive. Boat access is required.


Deinda:

Vessel:
A ferro-cement hulled yacht, probably built in Australia.
Length 45 ft.

Site:
On Luhr's Rock on the western side of Lyall Bay. In 5-7m of water on a rocky promontory. Look just on the landward side of Luhr's Rock (the pointy one, sometimes called Sharktooth Rock). Visibility 5m.

Incident:
The yacht ran aground around 3.30am as it was being brought into Lyall Bay in mistake for Wellington Harbour entrance. The three crew were rescued in their liferaft about 6.30am by Surf Rescue personnel who were out training in canoes.

Condition:
Scattered pieces of concrete filled with reinforcing iron. The wreck still has remnants of nylon netting, and shiny pieces of aluminium and stainless steel can be seen. It is an interesting dive site.

Diveability:
Strong currents surge around this point and care is needed. Boat access required.


Devon: Devon Link

Vessel:
Steel steamer of 3546 tons, built in England in 1897.
Length 420 ft, Beam 54 ft, Depth 28 ft.

Site:
300m north of the Pencarrow Head pumping station. In 5-15m of water on a rock bottom. Visibility about 7m.

Incident:
On 25 August 1913, ran aground during very strong southerly wind, driving rain and tremendous seas. By morning a line was fixed to shore and the crew was rescued one at a time in a basket.

Condition:
Large quantity of steel litters the area. Propeller shaft still intact, supported by bearing housings. Double bottom tanks provide good hidey-holes for crayfish.

Diveability:
Largest diveable wreck in Wellington Area. Interesting and worthwhile dive. However, the water can get a bit niffy during a southerly which brings some of the Pencarrow sewer discharge across. This is a boat dive as the road to Pencarrow Head is normally locked.


Emma Sims:

Vessel:
Auxiliary ketch of 61 tons, built in Australia in 1895.
Length 77 ft, Beam 21 ft, Depth 6 ft.

Site:
Lies off the southern end of Mana Island. In 3-7m of water on a rock and shingle bottom. Visibility 5-10m.

Incident:
On 18 May 1907 was stranded on the south-east end of Mana Island when trying to seek shelter from a heavy sea and a south-easterly gale. She was on a passage from Havelock to Lyttelton. She had previously been stranded twice, on one occasion fatally losing her master overboard, and had been chartered on an expedition to the wreck of the Elingamite.

Condition:
Reportedly, virtually nothing identifiable remains apart from a few steel beams and the odd piece of brass and copper.

Diveability:
One of two wrecks in the same area, the other being the Gil Blas, a 100 ton schooner wrecked on 10 July 1857. Remnants of either vessel may be intermingled. A boat dive.


Grasmere:Grasmere

Vessel:
A three masted, wooden barque of 423 tons, built at Sunderland in 1865.
Length 143 ft, Beam 30 ft, Depth 18 ft.

Site:
Ran on to a rock in the vicinity of Toms Rock, Cape Terawhiti, about two miles off shore.

Incident:
The Grasmere sailed with a cargo of coal from Newcastle, NSW, to Wellington when on 25 December 1895 she ran on to a rock near Cape Terawhiti. She had been hugging the coastline trying to avoid a strong wind and was awaiting the assistance of a tug when she struck. The ships boats were blown off the land and, while the occupants had an anxious time, no lives were lost.


Halcione: Halcione Link

Vessel:
Iron barque of 843 tons, built in Scotland in 1869.
Length 191 ft, Beam 29 ft, Depth 18 ft.

Site:
1km south of Pencarrow sewer outlet, 30m offshore. In 3-5m of water on a sand and rock bottom. Visibility up to 13m.

Incident:
On 8 January 1896 sank in bad weather while bound from London to Wellington. The wind swung to the south and blew the ship on to rocks. A boat rowed in to Wellington for help and another smashed.

Condition:
Reported to be considerable wreckage over the sea floor. Complete sections of the hull, barrel shaped chunks of cement and coils of rusted wire are evident. A lot of wreckage is covered by sand.

Diveability:
Site apparently well worth visiting. Boat dive.


Magic: Magic Link

Vessel:
Auxiliary schooner of 58 tons, built in New Zealand in 1901.
Length 92 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 6 ft.

Site:
Lies off Inconstant Point, Wellington Harbour. In 3-5m of water on a rock and shingle bottom. Visibility 4m.

Incident:
On 26 March 1921 sank while beating up Wellington Harbour. A northerly gale was blowing and very heavy seas were running. The captain and crew landed at Pencarrow Head in the ship's boat.

Condition:
Only a few scattered pieces of steel remain. Probably she was stripped of her fittings while high and dry. It has been reported that marble from her cargo was used to build the Massey Memorial in Wellington above Point Halswell.

Diveability:
Presumably of low interest except as a dive site. Inconstant Point was named for the vessel Inconstant which ran aground there in 1849. She, however, was refloated and taken into Wellington Harbour. Boat dive.


Nambucca:

Vessel:
Wooden screw steamer of 94 tons, built in Australia in 1898.
Length 101 ft, Beam 24 ft, Depth 7 ft.

Site:
Lies beside a lone rock (Nambucca Rock) in the centre of the bay 1km west of Sinclair Head. About 600m from shore in 11m of water. Visibility to 12m.

Incident:
On 16 January 1905 was bound from Blenheim to Wellington when she struck on the reef inside of Thoms Rock near Karori light. She ran into thick fog when passing Cape Terawhiti which blocked her view of all lights. Those on board escaped safely, landing their boat at Island Bay.

Condition:
The wreck is marked by twisted pieces of metal, her blown-up boiler, and perhaps a few pieces of brass and lead.

Diveability:
A pleasant dive with relatively good visibility. Care should be taken because of the tidal current in the area. Boat dive.


Penguin: Penguin

Vessel:
Iron screw-steamer of 824 tons, built in Glasgow in 1864.
Length 221 ft, Beam 29 ft, Depth 14 ft.

Site:
Struck abreast of the outfall of Karori Stream on what was believed to be Toms Rock.

Incident:
A Cook Strait passenger vessel, on the night of 12 February 1909 struck a rock and foundered with the loss of 75 lives. When the vessel had started its voyage from Picton and entered Cook Strait the weather was clear, however it later became very thick. While the Master put the vessels head down the strait, an exceptionally strong flood tide had moved the vessel close to the coast and she scraped her starboard side along a rock and rapidly filled with water.


Progress: Progress Link

Vessel:
Iron steamer of 181 tons, built at Port Chalmers in 1882.
Length 129 ft, Beam 25 ft, Depth 10 ft.

Site:
50m east of the Yung Pen on the western side of Owhiro Bay. In 3-12m of water on a rock and shingle bottom. Visibility 2-8m.

Incident:
On 1 May 1931 was blown on to the rocks while un-manoeuvrable through breaking her tailshaft and losing her propeller. Her recovery was botched by the Wellington Harbour tugs. Four crew drowned.

Condition:
Scattered pieces of iron litter the area, most unrecognisable apart from the boiler and engine.

Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area. Easy access, shallow depth, and a popular dive site. A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.


South Sea: South Sea Link

Vessel:
Steel steamer of 127 tons, built in England in 1912.
Length 140 ft, Beam 27 ft, Depth 12 ft.

Site:
Lies 1.5km north east of Point Halswell in Wellington Harbour. In 12-20m of water on a mud bottom. Visibility rarely above 3m.

Incident:
On 19 December 1942, was in collision with the inter-island ferry Wahine (an earlier boat than that which sank in 1968) while on patrol in Wellington Harbour as a Navy minesweeper.

Condition:
Almost intact, sitting upright on the bottom. Upper deck super-structure demolished during salvage operations. Holes on deck allow viewing inside hull.

Diveability:
One of the few complete hulls within easy access of divers. Dangerous to enter because of poor visibility. Lots of fish. Boat dive.


Subraon:

Vessel:
Wooden Barque of 510 tons.

Site:
At the southern end of Breaker Bay at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. In 2-3m of water on a sand and rock bottom. Visibility 5-7m.

Incident:
On 26 October 1848 sank when the pilot attempted to take the vessel out of the harbour via Chaffers passage, despite a warning from the Master. She was bound for Sydney with refugees from a violent series of Wellington earthquakes. Passengers and crew were landed safely. There was not the slightest chance of saving her as she was fast on the rocks and had lost her rudder.

Condition:
Little remains above the sand level.

Diveability:
Interesting as one of the earliest wreck sites around Wellington, however some effort is required to find any traces of her. Easy shore access. A slight tidal current is usually present. Refer to the south coast dive site, Gibraltar Rock.


Tui:

Vessel:
Iron steamer of 64 tons, built at Dunedin in 1875.
Length 103 ft, Beam 16 ft, Depth 8 ft.

Site:
500m north of Barretts Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. In 12m of water on a sand bottom. Visibility 5-7m.

Incident:
On 1 November 1886 sank in Chaffers passage while bound from Wellington to Foxton. The weather was thick and a heavy rain squall obscured land lights. The bottom was ripped out of her on rocks.

Condition:
The site has been commercially worked however it is still one of the few semi-intact steamships in the Wellington area. Wreckage has not scattered but has collapsed around the keel.

Diveability:
Extremely interesting and well worth visiting. Boat access required. Slight tidal current usually present.

The truth is, I have lost it, even after a fair amount of searching. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


TEV Wahine: Wahine

Vessel:
Twin screw turbo-electric vessel of 8948 tons, built in Govan, Scotland in 1966.
Length 489 ft, Beam 73 ft, Depth 42 ft.

Site:
Initially struck and crossed Barrett Reef, ultimately capsized beside Steeple Rock at Seatoun.

Incident:
On 10 April 1968 a storm of unprecedented power forced the Wahine off course over Barrett Reef, through Chaffers Passage, past Point Dorset and, anchors dragging, down to Steeple Rock where she held her head into the storm for some hours. Although the storm began to abate, the force of the outgoing tide swung the vessel side-on to the weather. This, along with the water in her holds, caused her to lean over and eventually capsize on her starboard side in 38 feet of water. Of the total of 734 people on board, 51 lost their lives. Over the next year preparations were made to refloat her. However, a second storm broke the hull into three pieces. The wreck was cut up and sold for scrap.


Wellington:

Vessel:
Full-rigged wooden ship of 696 tons, built at Maine, USA, in 1854.
Length 153 ft, Beam 30 ft, Depth 22 ft.

Site:
20m off the rocks on the western side of Owhiro Bay. In 5-12m of water on a rock and shingle bottom. Visibility 2-8m.

Incident:
On 7 March 1869 was blown up on to the rocks while sailing from Wellington in ballast. The Cyrus was being wrecked 50m east of her at the same time. Her foreign name was HELIOS.

Condition:
Very little remains apart from a donkey boiler and two anchors. Being wooden on this exposed coast her remains would have scattered rapidly.

Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area. More interesting historically as there is little showing for explorers. A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.


Willie McLaren:

Vessel:
Wooden barque of 536 tons, built at Prince Edward Island in 1874.
Length 145 ft, Beam 32 ft, Depth 17 ft.

Site:
Lies 300m off Seatoun Beach, Wellington Harbour. In 10m of water on a sandy bottom. Visibility 5m maximum.

Incident:
On 5 November 1889 sank while beating up Wellington Harbour. She scraped her bottom while passing Steeple Rock, started taking water and with her cargo of coal. Unexploded bomb found in 1970's.

Condition:
Portions of wooden hull with copper sheathing and bronze pins still show, but looks more like a collapsed coal shed than a barque. Coal still litters the sea floor.

Diveability:
Even though there is not a great deal of the boat left, this is still quite an interesting site to dive. Boat access required.


Woollahra:Woollahra Link

Vessel:
Iron barque of 942 tons, built in England in 1875.
Length 202 ft, Beam 34 ft, Depth 20 ft.

Site:
Approximately 30m offshore in a small bay, directly inshore of the Karori Rock light. Lying in 2-4m of water on a rock and shingle bottom, part of the bow breaking water at low tide. Visibility in northerly conditions usually 5m.

Incident:
At midnight on 14 July 1907 ran aground on rocks while sailing from Wellington to Kaipara and Sydney. The Captain and a seaman lost their lives. The beach was strewn with wreckage, the vessel having been 'smashed to matchwood.'

Condition:
Regardless of the newspaper report, there are considerable pieces of hull remaining, including large bow and stern sections.

Diveability:
This is a relatively complete wreck and quite interesting site but is not often visited by divers because of its distance from Wellington and the unpredictably rough seas in the area. Shore dive, but four wheel drive vehicle required. Refer to the south coast dive site, Karori Light.


Yung Pen: Yung Pen Link

Vessel:
Steel fishing vessel of 174 tons, built in Taiwan in 1970.
Length 37 ft, Beam 37 ft, Depth 3 ft.

Site:
20m off shore in the channel on the western side of Owhiro Bay. In 7m of water on a rock bottom. Visibility 2-8m.

Incident:
On 12 December 1982 drifted on to the rocks in the early morning. It is believed that no lookout was on watch, and by the time the drift was noticed it was too late. Broke up in later storms.

Condition:
The wreck eventually broke in two and the bow section was swept almost up to the road. It was cut up for scrap. The stern lies upside down in the channel covered by 1-2m of water.

Diveability:
One of four wrecks in the same area. Easy access, shallow depth, and a popular dive site. (Name means 'Good Luck Forever!). A shore dive. Refer to the south coast dive site, Owhiro Bay Shipwrecks.

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