Phoenix Shoal

This dive site presents the wreck of the British merchant ship Phoenix, lost in 1829 near Phoenix Shoal in Simon’s Bay. The ship, built in 1810 and carrying passengers and cargo, sank with no loss of life. It rests on a scattered reef composed of low to medium profile structures on flat sand bottom, reaching a maximum depth of approximately 10 meters. Parts of the shoal extend to the surface, creating shallower areas suitable for less experienced divers. The wreck itself is largely buried, but some sections are visible above the sand, including remnants of its stem and iron ballast scattered across the reef. The ship was likely positioned between two shallower reef sections on the northeastern side of Phoenix Shoal. Historical interest remains due to the vessel’s presence and the potential for macro photography in clear visibility – a wide-angle lens might yield good results with natural light. Whale vertebrae and rib fragments, along with encrusted iron wreckage, also inhabit this area.