As I sat watching the Pirates of Carribean last night, I couldn’t help but think of sea and ships and, of course, shipwrecks. As eerie it may sound, a tour of shipwrecks is highly intriguing. You wouldn’t need to skip a visit of these shipwrecks even if you are a hydrophobic, for there are right on the rocks. That is, by the beaches and water bodies rather than on the ocean or river beds. You can even walk into some of them!
Take your pick from some of the most fascinating shipwreck sites that will haunt you (in a good sense of course) for the rest of your life.
Here’s the best –
Homebush Bay Wrecks, Australia
Photo Courtesy – mezuni (Jason Baker)
Home to more than 4 shipwrecks, this bay is on the sides of Parramatta River. It’s in the state of South Wales, and you’ll find some of the most fascinating shipwrecks here, protected under Shipwrecks Act, 1976 and NSW Heritage Act, 1977.
Point Reyes Wrecks, California
Photo Courtesy – Adil Ashraff
One of the most dangerous sea shores, this one saw ships and boats hitting and dying in quick succession. More than 50 wrecks still lie here, in wait for the photographers who are usually on a stroll around here.
Skeleton Coast Wrecks, Namibia
Photo Courtesy – 8thingstodo
Yes, you see it right. This ship is, indeed, abandoned in a desert – Namib Desert. It ran aground in dense fog and could not be tugged back to the sea. While the waters shrunk back, the wrecks are now some 100 mts inland. Fascinating? Eerie? Take your pick.
Grytviken Wrecks, South Georgia
Photo Courtesy – Serge Ouachée
A major whaling port once, it is now a tourist attraction for anyone patrolling the seas around Antarctica. You, too, can walk in and buy some souvenirs and more. This one, in the picture, is the Petrel, a whale catching vessel.
Navagio Bay Wrecks, Greece
Photo Courtesy – Sokoban
Well, pirates and smugglers can’t be far behind when we are talking of ship wrecks. And this shipwreck off the Navagio Beach was supposedly used by tobacco and alcohol smugglers, who left it here in a storm, while fleeing from the Greek navy! Watch it from afar, for it’s crumbling. Literally.
Vila Nova de Milfontes Wrecks, Portugal
Photo Courtesy – chem 11
Yes, nobody knows what or whose ship this one is. More for the lovers of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, this abandoned ship at Vila Nova de Milfontes in Portugal is perfect to weave your own story. Pirates, storms, fog or some ghosts close on heels, take your pick.
Fraser Island Wrecks, Australia
Photo Courtesy – Nina Matthews
The Maheno, as it is called, saw much action in WW II before being sold off for scrap. Perhaps, it took the transaction on its ego (if ships have one) and intentionally landed in the middle of a cyclone. That landing left no chance to the sailors other than abandoning it at Fraser Bay, its resting place since the mid 1930s! Some real ship that!
Stockton Beach Wrecks, Australia
Photo Courtesy – AussieLegend
MV Sygna was battered by a storm on its maiden voyage. This Norwegian carrier could never taste the real waters for swells more than 56 ft came lashing on it from the Newscastle Port. Sad? Fascinating? If nothing, it’s an old leaf waiting to be turned in the history books.
East Lothian Wrecks, Scotland
Photo Courtesy – Emoscopes
Not actually ships, there are the remains of WW II midget submarines! Wait for the low tide to visit these, and you’ll be able to walk right till the wrecks. Rusted, molded and seeing some moss now, these look straight from the sets of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
Berrow Wrecks, England
Photo Courtesy – Ken Grainger
A strong gale was all that caused the running aground of SS Noren of Norway. Lying near St Mary’s Parish Church, it comes out as a ribbed, no flesh skeleton of a ship. More so, when the tide goes low. It’s haunting. Very haunting, yet alluring in a strange way.
Leaving you to muse and pack your bags to visit some of the most gorgeous shipwrecks visible from the land, I’ll be off to find more such fascinating travel tales for you. Do write back to share your thoughts on the story, other such awesome ideas, or anything that has a travel connect to it.
Till then, happy travelling.
About the Author
Shikha Gautam loves to play with steering wheels, roads, words, flute and guitar among other things. Not necessarily in that order! You can contact her on twitter @ShikhaGautam
