Diving the Annie Falconer


Photographs and Story by Tom Wilson
Adventurers Dive Log: Scuba Diving on the Annie Falconer.

FOUR FLAG DIVE

Type: Shipwreck, two masted schooner
Build: Woodr
Length: 108'r
Built: 1867 Sunk: 1904
Depth: 79'
Level: Intermediate

The Annie Falconer is a beautiful wreck with many details still in great shape. Not as deep as the Olive Branch which is just a few kilometres away, the conditions are otherwise virtually identical.
The wooden hull is in quite good condition, aside from having its stern ripped off and lying slightly to the starboard side. The wheel is still in place on the relocated section, which is quite intact.
Annie's bow is what contains the subject of controversy. Two massive anchors were ripping the ship apart for years and what was once level decking at the front has now been wrenched wildly from the split at the tip of the bow. One of the anchors has mercifully fallen, but the other remains, doing damage which certain dive groups would love to halt by cutting it away but are reportedly being prevented from doing so by the government which does not want to see the historical site tampered with.
Immediately after descending the line you will see two small plaques (see pictures), the white one being a warning that the bow may collapse at any time and is a hazzard to divers.
To commemorate the work that has been done on this ship and the lives that were lost on her, there is a sizeable granite memorial at the base of the bow on the port side. You will need to get quite close to be able to read the letters carved into the black stone face, but it is well worth the effort.
Despite the damage at the bow and stern this wreck is in very good condition and has several small artifacts that are easy to find. Naturally, zebra mussels prevail, having improved the visibility but taken their toll by abscuring most of the ship's structure.


Photographs and Story by Tom Wilson

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