MAXIMUM DEPTH: 25m
MINIMUM DEPTH: 16m
BOAT TRIP: 20-25 minutes
MINIMUM LEVEL: Advanced
This specific wreck has accumulated several names over the years due to people initially not knowing exactly what ship this was, however since then, further substantial evidence has come to light highlighting the likelihood of this being the SS Orestes. These important pieces of evidence include a piece of crockery found with the inscription “Ocean” (known to be on SS. Orestes), the shape of the unique anchor which SS Orestes is also seen to have, the approximate length of the ship, the two masts and features of the mast, and it being a single screw propeller driven ship.
As we swim deeper and closer to the wreck, some of these significate pieces of evidence can still be seen and explored, including an unusual looking boiler. The history of SS Orestes is that it sank in 1875, with Captain Buckley at the helm, when it struck a submerged shoal called the Gindura reef.
The main activity we can see here are Big Eye Trevally which consume almost all of the ship, darting in and out of the crevices and the divers’ pathway throughout the dive. We start seeing the Big Eye Trevally at just 5 meters deep, however this dive allows us to immerse ourselves to approximately 25 meters deep in order to explore the ship wreck resting there waiting for us. Another common sight are Porcupine Fish, Sting Rays and Moray Eels.
