BARON GAUTSCH
Depth: 28-42 meters
Curiosities: sunken passenger ship
Allowed to
- Divers beginners
- Expert divers
- Nitrox
Description
The ship Baron Gautsch belonged to the Austrian Lloyd employed in regular coastal navigation line Kotor-Trieste. She was built up in 1908 and was named after the Prime Minister of Vienna, Baron Paul Gautsch. Sinking of Baron is deemed one of the gravest disasters ever happened to the Merchant Navy of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. At her last voyage she had been taking families of Austrian officers and government employees, and refugees from Boka Kotorska and Dubrovnik to Trieste. On 13.08.1914 wishing to shorten the voyage time the ship tried to come through the mine field, as it was supposed that some other merchant ship had just passed that way. But unfortunately she hit the mine by its starboard side and shortly after she sank taking 240 passengers down with her.
Nowadays she actually lies buried in the sediment bottom some 6 nautical miles to southwest from the lighthouse Sv. Ivan, in the open sea at depth of 40 meters. Upper deck can be reached at 28 meters and the lower one at 36 meters. The wreck is 84, 5 meters long and almost 12 meters wide. Entering inside the ship is possible only for divers having completed relevant education and possessing adequate equipment. The wreck is grown all over with red algae and multicolored sponges. The inside is settled by shoals of picarels, and a few conger eels. The biggest among them has already got accustomed to divers so that feeding ritual becomes rather an attraction. Once we have encountered an amberjack as large as a mid-size barrel, swimming around with curiosity and completely ignoring the divers.
Note
The ship wreck is under protection of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia. Diving may be accomplished subject to being accompanied and if granted a special license. When entering inside the ship one should take care of swimming carefully to prevent muddying of the sand sediment. The ship lies in right position, well preserved and gives an unforgettable experience to any diver. The sunken ship Baron Gautsch is deemed one of the most beautiful ship wrecks in the Adriatic.