This dive is on the Lake Illawarra shipwreck which rests under the Tasman Bridge

Dive is pending TasPorts permit approval.

### NOTE ### Due to the low visibility, currents, being a wreck and higher than usual psychological stress this is STRICTLY limited to advanced open water dives with recent low visibility experience, at least 75 dives and deep diving experience, the committee will be confirming all divers meet these requirements before the dive.

Hidden in the Derwent river under the shadow of the Tasman Bridge lies the MV Lake Illawarra.

On the 5th of January 1975 at 9.27 pm the MV Lake Illawarra, under the captaincy of Boleslaw Pelc, crashed into the 18th and  19th pylons of the Tasman Bridge bringing down a 127 m span of the bridge and sinking the ore carrier, you can read more of the story here.
Today the Illawarra rests on the silt under the bridge in 35 m of water. Light here penetrates down to around 20m so a torch is still essential!  The main ships deck at the bottom of the bridge is around 26m, which will be the maximum depth for the dive. The bridge itself spans up to 15 m with numerous port holes to look into on the way up. The smoke stacks on top raise up to around 13 m. Moving from stern to bow, and with some close examination, the ships radar domes and hoists can be found. The ship itself is home to a surprising amount of marine life including yellow jewel anenomes, crayfish and cowfish.

You can start getting familiar with the dive site from this video and this TUDC dive of MV Lake Illawarra – YouTube

Due to depth limits we will only be doing a single dive.

Use of club Regs, BCD and weights are included in the cost of the dive if needed, you will need your own wetsuit, fins and mask.

Anyone unwell must not attending club events.