The HMS Pandora was an intimidating vessel if ever we saw one. This 24-gun Porcupine-class ship was a part of the Royal Navy and can trace its days of operation back to 1779. About a decade later, the warship was used to chase down “Bounty” mutineers.
While the operation was fairly successful, with the capture of 14 of the mutineers, it ultimately led to its shipwreck in the Great Barrier Reef. It is believed to be one of the most noteworthy shipwrecks to have ever happened in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we can see a scuba diver discovering one of the water casks that was once part of the ship.
Nippo Maru
Here, we can see the wreckage of the Nippo Maru surrounded by coral and marine life. This cargo ship sunk the bottom of the Chuuk Truk Lagoon back in World War II. This vessel was originally used to ferry troops and carry supplies around the Pacific. Ultimately, the ship fell in 1944 at the hands of Operation Hailstone.
Fast forward 25 years later, and the legendary Jacques Cousteau discovered the wreckage in an expedition. These days, divers can easily access the wreckage, which lies 47m underwater. However, it is recommended for divers to have some kind of certification before their descent.
The Sweepstakes Wreck
One doesn’t have to be a diving expert to visit the Sweepstakes wreck in Big Tub Harbour. One only has to snorkel in Fathom Five National Marine Park to find it perfectly in place, its hull fully intact, just 20 feet deep. There are several wrecks in the area that tourists might want to explore, but “Sweeps” remains a favorite for being an easy dive.
This schooner was built in 1867 but was damaged off Cove Island while delivering loads of coal. It was tugged back to Big Tug Harbour so it could be repaired, however, the damages were so bad that the boat sank in 1885.
Apollo 11 Rockets
Apollo 11 is a significant part of American history for landing the first two astronauts on the moon. It was a byproduct of the space challenge between the US and the Soviet Union, and these F-1 engines were lost on the Atlantic Ocean after they successfully propelled the ship past the S-1C stage.
The recovery of the rockets took a three-week expedition by punctiliously scanning the seabed with sonar technology. This project was funded by Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos, and they were able to retrieve various parts of two out of the five rockets used.
The Vasa Shipwreck
The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. It wasn't until the late 1950s that the Vasa shipwreck was discovered just outside the Stockholm harbor. Finally, in 1961, the Vasa was salvaged with an almost intact hull. The shipwreck was taken to a temporary museum until 1988 when it was transferred to the Vasa Museum, a maritime museum in Stockholm.
The Vasa shipwreck, and the artifacts discovered with it, have become one of Sweden's most visited tourist spots, having been seen by over 35 million visitors since 1961. The Vasa has not only become a symbol of the Swedish Empire, but also provided incredible insight into what naval warfare, shipbuilding, and everyday life looked like back in 17th-century Sweden.