The best known of these wrecks are the four WW1 J Class submarines. After serving in the Atlantic for Britain in WWI, the remaining six J Class Subs were gifted to Australia in 1919, but were in such poor condition that two had to be towed to Sydney’s Garden Island Naval Base for refitting. After much expense, the J Class subs were based in Geelong, until 1922 when it was decided to scrap them. They were taken to Flinders Naval base in Westernport to be stripped and between 1926 and 1930, J I, J2, J4, and J5 were towed into Bass Strait and scuttled. J3 was towed to Swan Island, and beached in shallow water so her diesel engines and generators could provide power for the Swan Island Naval Base. J7 was sunk as a breakwater at Sandringham, and is now a feature of the marina at the Sandringham Yacht Club.

After more than 40 years lost on the seabed, the four J’s were discovered off Point Lansdale, creating huge excitement within the diving fraternity. These warships of stealth had become vibrant artificial reefs in depths between 27 and 40 meters. All were virtually intact except for breaks at the bow of the J4 and stern of the J2. Since then, time and tempest have taken a toll, and all the hulls are now broken.

J2, or the Deep Broken Sub, is in 39 meters close to the main shipping channels at the Heads. She sits upright with a 30 degree list to starboard, has formed a gully in the rocky reef, is broken aft of the engine room, and well covered in growths. The break is particularly colorful as the immediate interior is smothered in zoanthids and sponges. Large schools of bull’s-eyes patrol the break, along with leather jackets, and boar fish. The top of the hull is covered in stumpy algae and sponges and home to wrasse, small leather jackets plus schools of short finned pike. The conning tower, now without its outer sheeting, is covered in zoanthids, a great backdrop for the schools of butterfly perch.

Like all the subs 110W, the bow has collapsed, leaving the torpedo tubes exposed. Penetration of the subs has been somewhat facilitated by the removal of the engines and most of the machinery and pipes, but J2 has mounds of silt inside which can be even more dangerous. For the properly equipped and experienced, interior access can be gained at the break or through one of the larger holes in the aft deck. Much of the engine rooms are buried in silt, but some fittings can be found in the control room, and remnants of brackets possibly used for bunks or torpedo storage are visible in the crew quarters. The torpedo tube hatches are still in place. The stern section can also be penetrated, but again has mounds of sand inside.

To highlight the dangers of diving J2, a plinth to the starboard side of the conning tower has been placed in memory of a diver who lost her way inside the sub in 1997.

J5 was also known as the Yellow Submarine, but not because of the Beatles. Her entire bow and conning tower were covered in yellow zoanthids, a stunning sight. Sadly a severe storm in 2005 tore a lot of the plating off the bow and with it the zoanthids. The conning tower is still spectacular, and yellow. A feature of this wreck is the swim under the stern; the rudder is obvious, as are the three propeller shaft bearings and outboard supports. Large brackets on the sides of the hull were actually propeller guards to prevent the props getting too close to wharves. The 2005 storm also broke the J5 just aft of the conning tower, though the sections are still roughly in line. Large schools of pike are regularly seen flowing over and around this wreck, and there’s an obligatory school of perch on the conning.

Penetration of this wreck is always a serious matter as it’s in 38 meters and there are limited escape routes. It’s cleaner inside than the J2, but it’s still can sit it out.

J 1 was also known as the Winged Sub as it had an awning around the conning tower, which was removed by a violent storm in 1995. It was also intact until the 2005 storm broke it aft of the conning tower, almost identically to the J5. Lying upright in 36 meters on a rock bottom, it’s lightly covered in weed and sponge. Prior to 95, its bow was clear enough from the bottom to swim under, but now it is wedged hard into the reef. It has the usual fish inhabitants, but never as prolific as the other subs. There was a memorial plaque to a diver lost on this wreck in 1986, attached to one of the awning uprights. It was recovered a few years after the ‘95 storm, and plans are to return it on a plinth as another reminder of the need to treat this as a serious dive. Again, this wreck is fairly clean inside, but with enough fine silt to completely brown nut the interior with a few careless fin kicks.

Entry is via deck holes in the aft section and heading forward, shattered bulkheads, the remains of the radio room, crews’ quarters and torpedo room, and the torpedo tubes with hatches still in Place can be found. The interiors of these subs are quite large mid-ships, but get narrower towards each end and are quite constrictive at the stern.

The Tugs, Empire Gladstone Wrecks, The Cave & Reefs. Dive the Safest and most accessible wrecks on the south coast of NSW. Suitable for open water to advanced divers and great for underwater photographers! Other sites include the wharf at Merimbula — easiest shore dive around giant, cuttlefish, morwongs, rays, groper, moray eels, and beautiful soft corals.

Dive Short Pt Bommie, the Pestles, Nth Head, The Pinnacle, Big Kangarutha and more! After your dive relax in the newly refurbished, fully self-contained units at the Divers Lodge. We have accommodation for up to 24 people and each unit has its own lock-up room, wash off area, color TV, microwaves, lounge, dining, bathroom, kitchen etc. Package deals for groups, clubs and dive schools, special mid-week rates available. Dive courses done regularly.