Shipwreck S.S “Satara”- Seal Rocks
NSW Australia
The “Satara” was built by W. Denny & Bros, Dumbarton, Scotland
in December 1901 she was 410 foot long and was of steel construction with 2
decks, the upper deck sheathed with teak. She had 2 single ended boilers with
an auxiliary boiler and was powered by a triple expansion 3-cylinder engine
of 383 HP. She displaced 5200 tonnes.
At around 11am on Wednesday the 20th of April 1910 she struck Edith Breaker
just south of Seal Rocks and sank shortly after. There were 88 officers and
crew and one passenger on board all of whom were rescued.
The “Satara” now lies in 44 metres of water, lying on her port side
with her bow pointing out to sea and her stern inshore resting on a reef.
Descending down the anchor line, the first thing that strikes you is the size
of the wreck spread out on the sea floor its huge. From our anchoring point,
which is usually around the boilers, you have the option of either going forward
to the bow or rear to the stern.
The stern section by far is the best option, as you arrive at the huge boilers
you will start swimming along the stern tube past large pieces of machinery
and twisted metal, out on the sand you often see huge Black Rays and large Kingfish
patrolling the wreck.
The massive stern section where the accommodation was located will then greet
you. This rises up over 12 metres off the sea floor with a slight lean to the
port side. This area is a mass of fish life with large schools of Bull’s
eyes and morwong covering the wreck.
Swimming under this section you will swim over the huge propeller measuring
over 2 metres each blade, over the rudder and under the stern section. This
is where you will often encounter Grey Nurse Sharks and a large Black Cod.
Heading back towards the boiler and anchor area, you will swim past more large
pieces of machinery, large bollards and sheets of decking. Looking out on the
port side on the sand you will see the small auxiliary boiler, which was blown
clear when the ship sank.
This is a brief description of a typical dive on the S.S “Satara,”
it is so big that it takes several dives to see everything that it has to offer.
Depth 35- 44 metres advanced and deep diver trained with logged recent deep
dives.