The Illawarra region has had a strong link with shipping over many decades. In the early days of white settlement, ships were the only means of connecting with Sydney and latterly, Port Kembla Harbour is our connection to the world for both imports and exports.
Not surprisingly, every so often something goes wrong and a ship sinks or runs onto a reef. The April 2018 issue of 2508 and the associated YouTube video had a small introduction to the shipwreck heritage of our coast.
This month, we visit the wreck of the Bombo, which is too deep for snorkeling and located in the shipping channel at the entrance to Port Kembla Harbour so diving requires a bit of coordination with ship scheduling.
The Bombo was built in Scotland in 1929 and then sailed to Australia to carry blue metal from Kiama to Sydney. During World War II it was refitted as a mine sweeper and spent several years in northern Australia. The Bombo sank on 2 February, 1949 after a load of blue metal shifted on its way to Sydney in big seas. Only two of the 14 crew survived and those that survived the sinking drifted so far north that lifesavers from Thirroul, Austinmer and Coledale were used in the search.
Discovered in 1983 the wreck lies upside-down in 30m of water. It attracts a lot of fish and in the video you will see lots of nannygai (redfish), bullseyes and mado. On the sand is a Sergeant major, grey morwong, old wife and a red rock cod (look carefully). Growing on the wreck itself are lot of sea tulips, a few gorgonian corals and sponges. The wreck is slowly deteriorating as it rusts and gets pounded by the occasional big swell.
Check out Duncan’s new YouTube channel ‘Illawarra Underwater’ for more footage of local dives and snorkels – a unique resource for undersea explorers!
#/media/File:HMAS_Bombo.jpg){kind=link}