wreck

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HIP CHOW

Okay, let's talk about Hip Chow. This isn't your usual deep wreck dive; in fact, it barely qualifies as a dive. We're talking about a rusty old motor vessel, high and dry on the reef flats at Pinalum. It ran aground back in 1970, and the sea has been slowly reclaiming it ever since. What you get here is a fantastic snorkelling and photography spot. The wreck itself is a skeleton, stripped bare by decades of sun and salt. But that's its charm. We love watching the waves surge through the exposed ribs of the hull, creating a rhythmic, almost metallic clanging sound. It's a great spot for beginners or anyone who just wants to potter around with a mask and snorkel. Look closely in the shallow pools that form inside the wreck at low tide; we've seen everything from tiny crabs scuttling amongst the barnacles to juvenile parrotfish darting through the rusted metal. It’s an interesting contrast to the deeper wrecks Espiritu Santo is famous for, a quiet testament to the ocean’s power.