First charter groups booked for Saturday dive site set to open

Jessica Benton
The first charter groups will dive on the Bellarine Pensinula’s new international diving attraction this weekend, according to the tour operator.
Dive Victoria manager Jason Salter said his company had begun taking bookings for diving the $10 million wreck of the ex-HMAS Canberra off Barwon Heads.
“We’re anticipating the site will be opened up on Saturday,” he said.
“We’ve already begun taking public bookings to get people out there.
“Everyone is rapt it’s finally going to be opened and it’s created quite a buzz.”
Mr Salter said the ex-HMAS Canberra had stirred “strong” interest from local, interstate and international divers wanting to get up close to the wreck.
“This weekend’s bookings are mostly from local, regular divers because there’s only been a short amount of notice,” he said.
“We’ve already got interstate and international bookings, too, for down the track.
“We’ve got a group coming from Canberra in mid-December and inquiries from as far as California.”
State Government was coy on Wednesday about saying when the site would open.
Tourism Minister Tim Holding said the scuttled ship could be open as early as this weekend, suitable weather permitting.
“Following the final safety inspection dive this week subject to calm dive conditions, we’ll be in a position to confirm when the site will be open to the public and dive operators.
“This is an exciting time for the whole region, with the ex-HMAS Canberra to create a new underwater playground for divers.”
The Independent reported last week that Dive Victoria had secured half the access rights to the new dive site.
With the site under the management of Parks Victoria, commercial dive operators will have access to three of the four moorings. Recreational users will have to apply for permits to use the remaining mooring.
The dive site can accommodate about 60 divers at the one time. Permits from Parks Victoria will cost $5 for each diver.
Other divers and opposition MPs have criticised State Government’s access arrangements for creating a “monopoly” on access to the site.