Wellington, NZ, now a destination for divers!

Wellington, New Zealand, is about to add yet another attraction to its already-vast list of visitor activities – shipwreck diving.

On 12 November, weather permitting, the decommissioned Navy frigate F69 will be scuttled off Tapa Te Rangu Island, near Wellington Airport, after more than 30 years of service with the Royal Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Her new role will be as an artifical marine reef and dive attraction for visitors from throughout New Zealand and overseas.

The 3084 tonne, 113 metre vessel was launched by the Royal Navy in 1969 as HMS Bacchante, transferring in 1983 to the Royal New Zealand Navy, where she was renamed HMNZS Wellington.

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