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Helium and Nitrox Analysers
Know what you're breathing! Be confident and ensured that you have right mix for your dive. The Scuba Doctor is proud to be a supplier of the Divesoft range of He/O2 Trimix and Nitrox gas analysers, plus the Analox range of Nitrox and Trimix analyzers. These dive gas analysis units are simply the best available.
Tech Tip
Trust No One
Get an analyser. Learn how to use it properly. Calibrate it before every use. The only person who should be analysing your cylinders is you. The only analyser you should use is yours.
Label Everything
Clearly label anything that isn't air. If the MOD is less than the maximum possible depth of the dive (think deco cylinders), make sure the MOD stands out where not only you can see it, so can your buddies. Make it obvious to everyone if you are using the wrong cylinder at the wrong depth.
Consider putting a small piece of tape on each second stage, just in front of the mouthpiece, that has the MOD for the cylinder it is attached to. (This is in addition to the standard cylinder markings.) Any little thing that may save your life helps.
S.F. Hersey
Wreck Dive | 
Boat access
Coal Hulk | Max Depth: 7 m (23 ft)
S.F. Hersey | © Unknown
Level: Open Water and beyond.
The S.F. Hersey was a fine American built ship of 991 tons purchased by the Tasmanian Steamship Company in 1890. She was the largest square rigger registered out of Hobart. She made several voyages between Hobart and Newcastle under the command of Captain Wilson before she was converted to a coal hulk.
The S.F. Hersey lies within the Prohibited Area of Swan Island (Department of Defence) and is therefore out of bounds.
Diving the S.F. Hersey Shipwreck
The S.F. Hersey shipwreck site lies alongside and under the starboard side of the J3 Submarine at Swan Spit. The S.F. Hersey is protected by the submarine from the effects of a South swell or wind, but the scour pattern caused by the submarine has partially destroyed the site.
The sternpost is lying on its own and faces into the main area of the site. There is a large overhanging section about amidships where the outer planking and some of the frames can be easily seen. Towards the bow is a large number of broken timbers of the hull and some of the timber cargo. The forefoot (bow) of the vessel is exposed and subject to the strong tidal movement at the stern of the submarine.
Bricks and some timber cargo can be seen strewn about the site. There are iron and brass fastenings and copper spikes on the vessel.
Water depth is 5 to 7 metres. Sea bottom sand and a lot of kelp and seaweed. The tide race is very strong on this site, particularly at the stern of the submarine where it can reach 4 knots (7.41 kpm) at flood tide.
S.F. Hersey Shipwreck History
The S.F. Hersey was named after Samuel F. Hersey, a prominent Maine, USA politician and a founder of the Republican Party, being a wealthy lumber merchant. She was built in 1865 at Searsport, Maine, USA. The vessel was 168.8 ft (51 m) in length, with a 33 ft (10 m) beam, and a depth of 22.8 ft (6.95 m).
S.F. Hersey Sinking
On 21 May 1923 the SF Hersey was scuttled to be used as a pier in Port Phillip at the north end of Swan Island, next to the J3 Submarine.
The S.F. Hersey is within the Prohibited Area of Swan Island (Department of Defence) and is therefore out of bounds.
See also, Australian National Shipwreck Database: S.F. Hersey, and
Heritage Council Victoria: S.F. Hersey.
Heritage Warning: Any shipwreck or shipwreck relic that is 75 years or older is protected by legislation. Other items of maritime heritage 75 years or older are also protected by legislation. Activities such as digging for bottles, coins or other artefacts that involve the disturbance of archaeological sites may be in breach of the legislation, and penalties may apply. The legislation requires the mandatory reporting to Heritage Victoria as soon as practicable of any archaeological site that is identified. See Maritime heritage. Anyone with information about looting or stolen artefacts should call Heritage Victoria on (03) 7022 6390, or send an email to heritage.victoria@delwp.vic.gov.au.
Wathaurong (Wadda-Warrung) country
Traditional Owners — This dive site is in the traditional Country of the Wathaurong (Wadda-Warrung) people of the Kulin Nation. This truly ancient Country includes the coastline of Port Phillip, from the Werribee River in the north-east, the Bellarine Peninsula, and down to Cape Otway in the south-west. We wish to acknowledge the Wathaurong as Traditional Owners. We pay respect to their Ancestors and their Elders, past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Bunjil the Creator Spirit of this beautiful land, who travels as an eagle, and Waarn, who protects the waterways and travels as a crow, and thank them for continuing to watch over this Country today and beyond.
S.F. Hersey Location Map
Latitude: 38° 14.720′ S (38.245333° S / 38° 14′ 43.2″ S)
Longitude: 144° 42.110′ E (144.701833° E / 144° 42′ 6.6″ E)
Datum: WGS84 |
Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 09:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-26 20:31:19 GMT
Source: GPS
Nearest Neighbour: J3 Swan Island Submarine, 178 m, bearing 36°, NE
Coal Hulk.
Built: 1865.
Sunk: 21 May 1923.
Depth: 5 to 7 m.
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DISCLAIMER: No claim is made by The Scuba Doctor as to the accuracy of the dive site coordinates listed here. Should anyone decide to use these GPS marks to locate and dive on a site, they do so entirely at their own risk. Always verify against other sources.
The marks come from numerous sources including commercial operators, independent dive clubs, reference works, and active divers. Some are known to be accurate, while others may not be. Some GPS marks may even have come from maps using the AGD66 datum, and thus may need be converted to the WGS84 datum. To distinguish between the possible accuracy of the dive site marks, we've tried to give each mark a source of GPS, Google Earth, or unknown.
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