SS Bombo 04-08-07

We had really strong SW winds on August 4, 2007 but fairly flat seas were predicted. The swell was OK but the wind was really chopping the water up. A check with the harbour master and there are no shipping movements before 2pm making the Bombo a possibility. We headed out across the choppy water, dropping anchor on the site. We expected the wind to push the boat NW and drag the anchor onto the wreck. The boat stayed at 20m from the wreck so down we went. Our anchor was in the sand past the wreck and even in the strong winds it was holding the boat. We moved the anchor onto the wreck. Viz was very good - close to 20m. The stern with prop and rudder stood upright with the engine, boiler and forward part of the ship upside down. Further away was the rest of the bow of the ship, also upside down and separated by sand. The engine is outstanding and many parts are clearly identifiable. We were able to penetrate forward of the boiler, looking back into the boiler Wayne found a small moray eel on one of the tubes. There is scattered wreckage forward of the boiler. You are able to penetrate about 10-12m forward, after entering from the right side. Further forward is the rest of the ship, and you can penetrate a small way into this section from one side. The hull has been flattened severely over the years and it's just a matter of time till it drops completely and there will be nothing left to penetrate.

Still, the Bombo is a great dive and an easy run from the Port Kembla boat ramp. We dived on 36% Nitrox, a bottom time of 32 minutes, at 28-30m without going into deco (mind you we were close to deco). I'd recommend diving it while it can still be penetrated.