Jane Sea Wreck

The Jane Sea is a deliberately scuttled 57 m steel-hulled cement freighter that now sits upright on a sandy bottom as an artificial reef and popular wreck dive. The hull and deck are heavily encrusted with large gorgonians, sponges and cup corals, and the intact superstructure and hatches provide swim-throughs and passageways to explore. The wreck is widely dived and considered one of the most accessible wreck sites. The wreck’s depths range from about 18 m at the bow to around 27 m at the propeller. Visibility typically runs 10 to 30 m (about 20 m average) and water temperatures are generally in the mid-20s °C. The site is boat access only, with entry and exit by boat; currents can be moderate to strong, especially on the deeper side, so dives are often planned as drift or anchored dives. A common route is to circle the wreck from bow to stern and swim through open holds; there are no overhead ceilings and no decompression limits are generally encountered on a single dive. Night dives are possible. Significant hazards noted are the strong currents and the usual wreck-related entanglement risks, so standard wreck-diving precautions are advised; the wreck is generally suitable for open-water certified divers and many novice wreck divers since most of the structure lies above 18 m. The vessel was launched in 1959, originally named Blackthorn and later renamed Jane Sea. It was intentionally sunk on 4 September 1988 to create artificial reef habitat after experiencing engine trouble and fee disputes following its arrival in 1984. The wreck lies fully upright and stable and was scuttled deliberately rather than lost in an accident.