Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Muizenberg trawler wrecks
From Halal Explorer
The dive site Muizenberg trawler wrecks, I&J trawlers, or Muizenberg wrecks is an offshore recent wreck site in the Muizenberg area of False Bay, near Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The water is temperate and the bottom is flat sand.
Contents
Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Muizenberg trawler wrecks Halal Travel Guide
Muizenberg trawler wrecks - upright=2.5|Map of the dive site at the Muizenberg trawler wrecks}}
Thit is a dive site which is seldom visited, and is visited mainly as a change from the more popular sites by local divers who have seen most of the other wrecks in the region and feel like a change.
Position
- S34°07.006' E18°31.219' Western trawler wreck GPS -34.1168,18.5203
- S34°06.996' E18°31.360' Eastern trawler wreck GPS -34.1166,18.5227
This site is in a Marine Protected Area (2004). A permit is required.
Name
The name "Muizenberg trawler wrecks" is a simple description of the dive site, which is the wreckage of two steel trawlers off Muizenberg. "I&J trawlers" refers to the trademark (I&J) of the fishing company Irvin & Johnson Ltd, which owned the vessels before they were scuttled.
Depth
Maximum depth is about 18 m. and the top of the wreckage is about 13 m. Average depth is likely to be about 16 m.
Visibility
The site is relatively shallow and on a fairly fine sand bottom, so any significant swell is likely to stir up the silt and reduce visibility, which will seldom be very good
Topography
I&J Trawler A (east) - Sidescan sonar image of the eastern trawler wreck I&J trawler B (west) - Sidescan sonar image of the western trawler wreck}}
Two fairly small steel wrecks, embedded in the sand, both listing to port, with most of the superstructure gone. Limited access to the hull of the eastern wreck is feasible through the deck frames, as the decking is gone. The western wreck is more deeply embedded and very little of the interior is not filled with sand, but there is a small section of deckhouse aft which is open, but hardly worth entering, as one can see all the way into it from outside.
The western wreck is listing at quite a steep angle, and the port topsides are under the sand if they still exist. The starboard side projects out of the sand about 3 m at the bow, and about a metre at the stern. There is a trawling gallows on the starboard side just forward of the stub of the deckhouse. This vessel appears to have been the smaller of the two.
The eastern wreck is more substantial and although also listing to port and the port gunwale is still about a metre above the sand, while the starboard stands up about 3m for much of its length, extending to about 4 m at the bow, which is the shallowest part of the wreck, at about 12 to 13 m, depending on the tide.
Geology: Fine silica sand bottom, almost flat, with wave induced ripples.
Conditions
The site is exposed to southerly swells and south easterly wind waves, so should be dived in westerly winds or a calm, with fairly flat seas. The site is reasonably protected from westerly swells, but it is quite shallow, and will feel the surge if there is a south westerly swell running.
The site is usually at it's best in winter but there are also occasional opportunities in other seasons.
Muslim Friendly Travel TO Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Muizenberg trawler wrecks
-34.116800|18.51000|width=|align= Muizenberg trawler wrecks}} Access is only by boat — it is much to far to swim. Boats will usually launch at Simon's Town.
The site is about 11.9 km from Simon's Town jetty, or 13.3 km from Millers Point slipway.
What to See
Marine life
The wreckage is well covered by invertebrates, and dominated by the ascidian Redbait, with fairly large numbers of red-chested and mauve sea cucumbers, some patches of strawberry anemones, quite a lot of bryozoan colonies and scattered gorgonian sea fans. There are also black mussels, which may be the alien invasive Mediterranean mussel. The usual selection of starfish and some sea anemones are also present, but not in very large numbers. Fish life is moderate in diversity and quantity, with shoals of small reef fish such as hottentot and strepie, and the usual scattered Roman, redfingers, jutjaw, klipfishes and catsharks. Small groups of pyjama catsharks may be seen sheltering inside the wreckage during the day. This site is in the area where great white sharks are known to cruise, but there are no reports of divers seeing them at the wreck. Thit is possibly due to a shortage of divers at the site rather than a shortage of sharks.
- Bonisa nakaza at Muizenberg wreck P8060505 - Gas flame nudibranch ''Bonisa nakaza''
- Lacy false coral at Muzenberg wrecks P8060489 - Lacy false coral (Bryozoan)
- Colonial ascidians at the Muizenberg wrecks P8060321 - Colonial ascidians
- Starfish at Muizenberg trawler wrecks P8060228 - Reticulated starfish ''Henricia ornata''
- False plum anemone at Muizenberg trawler wrecks P8060238 - False plum anemone ''Pseudactinia flagellifera''
- Red bait pods on Muizenberg trawler wreck P8060253 - Red bait pods ''Pyura stolonifera''
- Speckled klipfish at Muizenberg trawler wreck P8060273 - Speckled klipfish ''Clinus venustris''
- Pyjama sharks in the Muizenberg trawler wreck P8060503 - Pyjama sharks ''Poroderma africanum''
Features
Wreckage of two steel trawlers. They are the only reason anyone would dive at this site. The western trawler is 55 m long, and the starboard topside plating extends on average about 2 m above the sand, sloping downwards from a high point of about 3m at the bow to less than 1m at the stern. The port side of the hull is missing or below the sand. The east wreck is about 50 m long and stands a bit higher out of the sand. There is a rumour that one of the wrecks is the Bulby, reputedly the vessel that collided with the Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/SS Cape Matapan|SS Cape Matapan in Table Bay.
- Trawling gallows on western Muizenberg trawler wreck P8060250 - Trawling gallows on the western wreck
- The deckhouse of the western Muizenberg trawler wreck P8060389 - The deckhouse of the western wreck
Photography
This site is unlikely to have very good visibility, but if it is good then there may be possibilities for some good wide-angle shots of the wreckage, otherwise it is mainly good for macro work.
Suggested routes
The skipper will probably drop the shot near the middle of one of the wrecks. Swim along the wreck from end to end, and particularly over the deck, where there are plenty of holes for critters to shelter. The wrecks are small and can be comprehensively visited on one dive. It should be feasible to swim from one wreck to the other, but this would require fairly accurate navigation as they are about 200 m apart.
Stay Safe
Hazards
The wreck themselves are not very hazardous, though there are some sharp edges and snags. The feasible presence of great white sharks may make some divers nervous, but the actual risk is probably quite low. Thit is up to the diver to decide.
Skills
No special skills required. The depth is within the range considered acceptable for entry level divers.
Equipment
No special equipment required.
Nearby
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Dale Brook|Dale Brook GPS -34.123933,18.452567
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Kalk Bay Harbour Wall|Kalk Bay Harbour Wall GPS -34.129783,18.449450
- Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay/Fish Hoek Reef|Fish Hoek Reef GPS -34.138200,18.444600
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