One of the first people to see a recently discovered sunken ship in Pictou Harbour, N.S., calls the wreck “amazing.”
“That’s one of the nicest wrecks in Nova Scotia,” says dive team captain Robert MacKay. “It’s only in 45 feet of water there and you know, the profile is coming up off the bottom. Twenty feet. It’s huge growth on it. It’s been there at least 100 years.”
The ship was accidentally discovered last month during upgrades of navigational charts. A 3D image was created, fueling the excitement about the mystery shipwreck in Pictou Harbour.
Seven divers from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island took cameras and equipment out to look at the wreck about 600 feet from shore.
“You wouldn’t think something was ever there,” says MacKay. “Nobody ever dives Pictou Harbour, you know. But it’s an amazing wreck.”
“Being on a newly discovered shipwreck is something that sometimes only happens once in a diver’s career. Or maybe never,” says diver Laura Brake.
The boat is about 196 feet long with a twin propeller and a wooden hull.
“You wouldn’t get each propeller in a dump truck,” says MacKay. “It’s huge. Each wing, four wings on each propeller, and each wing is four feet. It’s absolutely massive.”
The divers believe the inland location of Pictou Harbour may have helped project the ship.
“I’ve been diving here for 25 years and for a wreck this shallow to be three-dimensional and intact, this is just incredible,” says archaeological diver Harvey Morash. “Especially being a wooden hulled wreck. That’s unheard of around here. We’re the first group to dive this wreck ever. It’s exciting.”
MacKay plans to apply for a heritage research permit for the site. He hopes that will project the ship and give his team a chance for an even closer inspection.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Dan MacIntosh.
