Divers amazed by their clearest view yet of River Derwent wreck Lake Illawarra

The Lake Illawarra has lain dormant on the seabed for nearly 45 years and a group of divers have returned to the surface with some stunning vision of the wreck.

The Tasmanian University Dive Club on a recent dive around the wreck of the Lake Illawarra. Picture: Aruna De Silva

THE clearest vision ever seen of the wreck of the Lake Illawarra has been captured by a Hobart diving club.

The Lake Illawarra crashed into the Tasman Bridge in 1975, bringing down two pylons, killing 12 and splitting Hobart in two.

Tasmanian University Dive Club secretary Andrew Bain said he had been diving in that area for 10 years and this was the clearest he’d seen the water.

Algal and seaweed growth on the Lake Illawarra wreck. Picture: Aruna De Silva

Algal and seaweed growth on the Lake Illawarra wreck. Picture: Aruna De Silva

“This time of year we’re getting the nice light coming through, there’s less algal bloom,” Mr Bain said.

“But the main reason is the work that the Derwent Estuary Program has done to stop the zinc works and sewerage polluting. The Derwent year on year is getting clearer and clearer.”

Starfish take over next to the Lake Illawarra. Picture: Aruna De Silva

Mr Bain said there were two areas of interest for divers — the fallen bridge and the wreck itself.

“The fallen bridge, which is just down from where the existing bridge is, is a spot with a lot of fish life so we see flathead, anemones, huge crayfish (but they probably glow in the dark, you can’t eat them).

“Then there’s our two friends Pat and Betty, the sharks that we see on a regular basis. One of them is a 5-6 foot shark and the other is 6-7 footer.

“They’re sevengill sharks and we see them on a regular basis. They’re a very gentle shark, they’re friendly, they’re our buddies.”

Diver Aruna De Silva captured the wreck of the Lake Illawarra in the River Derwent.

Mr Bain said that on dives of the wreck years ago it was impossible to see anything.

“I actually kicked it accidentally. It was pitch black dark down there.”

Cars teeter on the edge after the Lake Illawarra struck the Tasman Bridge on January 5, 1975, bringing down two pylons.