Meet the site
The Songvaar is the largest and most rewarding wreck on the Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail. She was built in 1884 at Stockton-on-Tees, England, as the iron ship Barcore, about 85 m long and just over 2,100 tons, and was sold to Norwegian owners in 1909 and renamed Songvaar. In April 1912 she was lying at anchor off Wardang Island, waiting to load grain at Port Victoria. With most of the crew ashore, the tide and current turned her so that on the falling tide she settled onto one of her own anchors, which pierced her hull. She sank on 14 April 1912 at the north-western corner of the island. The wreck lies in about 9-10 m and remains substantial: hull sections, frames, plating and machinery rise from the sand, and the SDFSA notes that the offending anchor can still be seen piercing the hull – a unique and very tangible piece of history. The Dive Shack describes her as sitting upright. Fish life is outstanding. The SDFSA calls it amazing, and the Marine Life Society lists snapper, cuttlefish and other life; schools of old wives, bullseyes, tommy ruff and leatherjackets fill the structure, and blue swimmer crabs and rays work the surrounding sand. Sponges and algae coat the iron. The Songvaar is within Open Water limits, but visibility varies with tide and current, and it is an open-water boat dive. It is the natural centrepiece of a Wardang Island trip and pairs well with the shallow Moorara, a short run to the east.
What you might see
Snapper, giant cuttlefish, old wives, bullseyes, tommy ruff, leatherjackets, magpie perch, blue swimmer crabs, rays, sponges and algae
Location
Iron three-masted ship that sank at anchor off the north-west corner of Wardang Island in 1912 after her own anchor pierced her hull; upright and substantial in about 9-10 m.
Facilities nearby
Port Victoria boat ramp, toilets, kiosk with air fills, Maritime Museum.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
environment.sa.gov.ausdfsa.netthediveshack.com.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.