Divernet News, dateline 30 June 2003
Scuba diver charged after entering historic wreck SS Yongala
A 33-year-old American man has been charged with illegally entering the protected wreck of SS Yongala on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Tourist diver Edward Antonovich of New York state was charged on Friday 27 June at a Queensland magistrates court but failed to enter a plea. He faces up to 2 years imprisonment if convicted.
SS Yongala is a popular diving site, but divers are briefed not to penetrate the intact decks of the 92-year-old wreck as damage from exhalation bubbles is causing the structure to deterioriate. The wreck is designated as a site of historical importance, and dives are permitted on a 'look bit don't touch' basis.
SS Yongala sank in 1911 during a cyclone, killing 120. The prosecution is the first of its kind to be brought in Queensland and signals a growing determination on the part of the Australian authorities to protect their marine resources.
The wreck hit the headlines in January 2002 after a large, territorial grouper took up residence and tried to swallow a visiting diver's head. The man suffered minor cuts.
More articles of interest
Diving on the Great Barrier Reef
British wreck protection measures
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