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.