Southern Wrecks Dive Tour

Join us on our South Island tour & get to dive the wrecks in the stunning setting of the Marleborugh Sounds. The tour is an action packed & a must for any true wreck ferret.

The wrecks are located at several different sites around the area.The tour includes 2 x dives per day, gear hire & charters from our boat. Accommodation and food is included .

Flights or ferry and transfers are not included

Details of the Wrecks: 

MIKHAIL LERMONTOV

On 16 February 1986, she struck rocks near Port Gore in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, and sank, killing one crew member. With the loss of only one life, the USSR’s most luxurious cruise liner became one of the largest and most accessible diving wrecks of the modern era. The Mikhail Lermontov is in 37 meters of water which pushes the limits of recreational diving. This site is however an ideal dive for using  Nitrox, lots of fun for advanced divers. Good buoyancy control is needed on this dive as many of the ships original furnishings are still present and easily disturbed.

LASTINGHAM

An iron sailing ship. Sunk south side of Cape Jackson 1884. Her length is 221 feet

The Lastingham was on its way from London to Wellington and was totally wrecked on Cape Jackson with the loss of 18 lives.

The wreck is broken up, with hull plates, anchors and masts very recognizable. Most of the wreck lies in 8 to 10m of water, but debris flows down the seabed to a depth of 40m.

The majority of the wreck is covered in kelp and has fantastic sea life including some very large crayfish. It is said that 400 gold sovereigns still remain in the wreck with an approximate value of $90,000.00.

There can be current on this wreck site, especially if diving out in the deeper part of the wreck, generally the current is very mild or non-existent in the shallower parts of the  wreck site. This is one of the better dive sites in the Marlborough Sounds.

RANGITOTO 

An iron screw steamerthat sank off the south side of Cape Jackson in 1873. Her length is 209 feet

The wreck is in shallow water with an average depth of 8/10m. The engine, boiler, shat and screw are prominent. Large hull plates and scattered debris in and around the wreck site.

The Rangitoto is an easy dive with very little current, the wreck has  good fish life. The wreck site is close to where the Lastingham and Hippolas wrecks are and makes for a great second dive of the day. 

HIPPALOS

Was a wooden barque that Sunk in 1910 off Blumine Island Queen Charlotte Sound. Her Length of 127 feet makes her a short wreck in comparrison to the others but still a unique & interesting ship to dive.

Another casualty of Cape Jackson’s reefs, the Hippalos sunk under tow to Picton in 63m of water.

Not much is left of the wreck as over the years the decks have collapsed inwards. There are still steel masts, rigging and machinery including a steam driving wincvisible along with copper hull plating.

This is a technical dive and should only be considered by those trained in these sorts of depths and diving the appropriate gases and with good planning.

CAPE JACKSON SEA CAVES

Scattered on the  outer northern side of Cape Jackson are several shallow sea caves. These caves, although quite shallow penetrate quite a way into the cape and make for an interesting dive. 

ACCOMOMDATION

Full board is provided at a private lodge in Port Gore, just above the site of the Mikhail Lermontov.

Bedroom layout is 1 bedroom with 4 beds, 1 bedroom with 6 beds, 1 double bedroom and 1 twin in the lounge. Layout allows for privacy and the lodge is a less expensive and more comfortable option to live-a-board tours. If you would like to reserve the double bedroom or have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when confirming your booking. All bedding is supplied along with bath towel.