Acoustic Technologies –
Deep water archaeology: The Rottnest graveyard
In 1932 sites around Australia were designated for dumping unwanted vessels. One such site was a circular area 7 miles in diameter, designated 11 miles off the Rottnest Island Coast. In the 1990s reports from fishermen alerted the WA Museum of potential wreck sites in this area. As the Graveyard has a depth of between 80 and 100 m it was not possible at that time to dive on these sites. Since then, new technologies have been utilised to investigate the sites. These include aerial magnetometer, hydrographic and multibeam surveys. Technical divers and Sub Aqua Enterprises two-man submarine have also been employed to explore the area. To date there are 16 un-investigated sites and 21 known sites, including that of the HMAS Derwent.
