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At the end of W.W.II, thousands of tons of US Military equipment was dumped into the sea. Now named because of its worth, Million Dollar Point attracts an abundance of fish life. it is quite unique swimming over bulldozers, cranes, fork lifts, trucks and a pile of various military hardware. depth , 0m - 40m.
Million Dollar Point is located on Segond Channel less than a kilometre to the east of the Coolidge. At the end of the war, the Americans had insufficient space on its ships returning to the US to fit all the masses of equipment that had accumulated in Vanuatu. It was considered, quite reasonably, that the space was needed to take the hundreds of thousands of troops home rather than the equipment. Additionally, it was also thought that if all the equipment returned to the US, it could severely affect the US economy as no-one would want to buy new trucks, bulldozers or jeeps when they could pick up a very cheap ex-Army one.
Apparently the US offered to sell all the surplus equipment to the local people and Government at a very low price. However, in a gamble that failed, the locals refused to pay in the knowledge that the Americans could only fit a small amount of the equipment onto their ships. The thought in the back of their minds was that the Americans would just up and leave and the equipment would be theirs to have free of charge. This was a bad tactic as the Americans had other ideas.
The American Army lined up all the surplus equipment on the shore with engines running. Hand throttles were slammed on and bricks placed on accelerators and the equipment rumbled into the water, disappearing into water 35 metres deep just a few metres off the shore. From that day on, the site received its name due to the (then) value of the equipment dumped into the water.
After the war, there was some salvaging of the equipment by locals and fortune seekers. Reece Discombe, a New Zealander now resident in Port Vila, states that in 1948/9 he salvaged 14 bulldozers and hundreds of tyres. The bulldozers, despite being in the water for more than three years, were simply dragged out, washed in freshwater, new oil, batteries and electrics installed and they started. These dozers were sent to Australia where they were sold to the Joint Coal Board of New South Wales, Australia. He also reports that he salvaged propellers, propeller shafts, copper and copper wire.
If it was located anywhere other than a few kilometres from the SS President Coolidge, Million Dollar Point would be a major attraction in its own right, attracting divers from all over the world. As it is, the site is an excellent second dive after a deep morning dive on the Coolidge.
This is an extremely easy dive, either from the shore (so long as the seas are flat) or from a boat. As soon as you enter the water, masses of equipment can be seen. One of the first things you can see is the wreck of the Jedele (this is what it looks like to me from my video but it is also reported as the Dedelle), a small island trader that was scuttled at Million Dollar Point in the late 1970s or early 1980s. It is the first thing seen as you approach from the eastern end of the site with its bow pointing up to the sun. Five or ten minutes gives you a good look around the whole ship. Under the wreck there are a number of tracked cranes.
After leaving the wreck, start following the wreckage to the west along the sand bottom (about 35 metres) and you will be amazed by the type and quantity of equipment dumped here. As well as dozens of six wheel drive Studebaker or General Motors trucks and Willys jeeps, you will see bulldozers, tracked excavators, graders, forklift trucks, tractors, steam-rollers, motorised scrappers, low loaders, prime movers, semi-trailers and even scaffolding. It is sometimes hard to figure out exactly what you are looking at, things are so intertwined.
After about 25 minutes of the dive the equipment peters out a bit so it is time to return to your starting point. Come up a bit into the 15 metre range for the return trip and you will see more wreckage. Steering wheels, spare tyres, Coke bottles and other items abound everywhere. Soon you see another shipwreck. This vessel is the El Retiro, a 600 ton vessel, which was being used by Donald Gubbay in a salvage attempt (both above and below the water). This ship was apparently anchored while salvaging the equipment (in the late 1940s or early 50s). When the tide went out, it is rumoured that a dozer blade went though the hull and it sank but Peter Stone in his book The Lady and the President - The Life and Loss of the S.S. President Coolidge, says that Reece Discombe (a famous early diver and discoverer of Laperouse's ships) told him that the ship sank when the wind blew the ship close to shore and then the tide went out and the hull was pierced by something, but not a bulldozer blade as he had never seen one in that area. Just desserts some may say. There is very good coral growth on the wreck and excellent fishlife in this shallower area.
Further along you come across what looks like packs of sheets of corrugated iron in between trucks and dozers. Eventually you return to the bow of the Jedele.
There was a lot of material salvaged during the late 1940s and 1950s but even so, there is still a huge amount of equipment left to see.
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A 45m coastal trading tramp sunk intentionally in 1989 for the purpose of diving on. Now the Henry acts as an artificial reef attracting an incredible amount of fish life and coral growth. The Henry Bonneaud makes the perfect introduction to wreck diving. If you're into night diving, this wreck is a must; hundreds of "Flashlight fish" swarm about the wreck like stars.... depth 30m - 42m.
The Wrecks History
In 1951 a vessel called MV River City was built for The Wanganui Shipping Co Ltd of Wellington New Zealand by Schps De Hoop NV in Lobith, Holland. The vessel was 45.85 metres long with a breadth of 7.48 metres and a gross weight of 397 tons and was powered by a single six cylinder diesel engine driving a single prop. For the next 13 years or so, the River City plied its trade around the New Zealand coastline till 1964 when it was sold to the Holm Shipping Co Ltd, also of Wellington. The River City was renamed MV Holmbrae and it was planned to be used on the South Island to Plymouth route. The Holm Shipping Co ran a series of coastal traders in New Zealand. They did not keep the vessel for long as it proved to be unsuitable for a shallow river port like Wanganui and the Holmbrae was too small for the planned service (one report says it was too big to use the main port it was planned to use).
In 1966 the Holmbrae was purchased by Captain A. R. Rudsen and renamed MV Paulmarkson (sic) (also reported as Paul Markson) and moved to Port Vila. For the next three years or so it was used around the islands of Vanuatu until sometime in 1969 when it was sold to Comptoirs Francais des Nouvelles-Hebrides, also of Port Vila and renamed MV Henri Bonneaud. The Bonneaud continued to trade around the many islands of Vanuatu for more than 16 years. The vessel was last registered in 1985-86 and about this time was unable to pass survey.
In late 1989 the proprietor of Aquamarine Diving, Kevin Green, purchased the Henri Bonneaud. On 19 December 1989, he sank the ship only a few hundred metres from the main beach of Bokissa Island Resort where he was running the dive operation. More by luck than design, the scuttled wreck landed on its keel in 40 to 45 metres of water.
After more than six years, the wreck has gained a considerable amount of marine growth and the resultant fishlife. 30 and 45 metres visibilityis not unusual.
Kevin usually anchors near the bridge area and after reaching the bottom you can drop over the (shallower) starboard side and swim about 20 metres off the wreck. Looking back at the ship you can see the whole wreck laid out in front of you. From here, swim along the starboard hull to the bow. There are some very nice gorgonias and sponges that make ideal photos. Swim out 20 metres in front of the bow onto the sand. This view of the ship, seemingly steaming towards you, is a sight that will stay with you for a long while. Ascend to the deck of the bow and examine the front crew cabins which you can enter through two separate doors. It is a bit tight for more than two divers at a time, but check out the bunks and galley.
Drop into the forward hold and swim towards the stern. Below the bridge in the rear hold, you can easily access the engine room, although it is a bit cramped finding your way around the huge diesel motor. The engine is intact, with gauges, valves and other equipment still visible. A series of ladders lead up out of the engine room and makes a different, if somewhat tight, way to return to the outside of the vessel. The bridge and crew quarters can be seen in this area before you swim out one of the many doors or windows.
If you have time, drop over the stern where you can see the propeller, already covered with dozens of feather stars. This makes a colourful and interesting photograph.
The upper levels can be explored as you start your ascent back to the anchor line which should be easily visible.
Due to the nature of the wreck, this really is multi-level diving and a dive computer will come in very handy.
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