The world’s oceans are like vast, living museums, where we can admire and enjoy a variety of life, along with interesting historic treasures from times both recent and long past. Let’s take a few minutes to enjoy two South African wrecks, which are strikingly different from one another, yet fascinating in a similar way.
SAS Pietermaritzburg
This Algerine class ocean minesweeper was launched during World War II and commissioned by the Royal Navy as HMS Pelorus. This incredible vessel took part in the historic Normandy invasion, also known as D-Day. As the lead minesweeper, she made way for the rest of the ships that carried the allies to their victory over Nazi powers. When you dive SAS Pietermaritzburg, you can almost hear the shouts of soldiers and sailors and feel the thrill that certainly must have been present during that historic period.
In 1994, after service to the South African Navy from 1947 to 1991, the Pietermaritzburg was finally scuttled as an artificial reef. At more than 68 meters long and 11 meters wide, she now lies in 22 meters of water on a sandy bottom. While visibility is often less than 8 meters, it sometimes increases to more than ten. Although this wreck was once penetrated with ease and safety, it has corroded to the point that a shot weight will puncture the deck, and it is not safe to enter.
Parts of the wreck are covered in colorful invertebrates and sea squirts, while octopus hide inside the dark, cavernlike expanses that once housed soldiers and sailors. Watch for passing hottentot and other fish in the area.
Brunswick
In 1805, this English East-Indiaman, which was laden with sandalwood and cotton, was captured by Admiral Linois, of France. The ship ran aground after losing all three of her anchors during a heavy gale. Today, she is primarily a group of wooden beams and some corroded copper sheeting. The whole wreck is overgrown with kelp and is home to a variety of creatures, including loads of pajama sharks.
If you want to explore the Brunswick for yourself, you will need to get permission from the South African Navy, which is not difficult to obtain. You can either enter from shore and swim 120 meters or so to the site, or you can dive from a charter. This is an easy dive to just six meters, and is suitable for divers of every level, who will enjoy the octopus and nesting steentjies, as well as the variety of nudibranchs that make their homes among the timbers. The site is a very popular night dive, however, it is recommended that you take a boat to the site if you plan to dive after the sun goes down, since swimming from shore can be disorienting and there is a large break wall that is hard to climb up and down in the dark.
The debris field itself is huge – about eight hundred square meters. You’ll see brass fittings and bits of wood, along with bronze drift bolts and other pieces of hardware. Though it may be tempting to grab a souvenir for yourself, it is illegal to do so. Please preserve the site for everyone to enjoy!