HNMS Bato wreck

About this dive site

Explore the water around Western Cape

Name: "His Netherlands Majesty's Ship Bato" was a Dutch warship of 800 tons and 74 guns. The ship had been used as a floating battery in Simon’s Bay for several years. Set on fire and sunk off Long Beach, Simon's Town, on 8 January 1806, the same day that the Battle of Blaauwberg began. The Batavian Republic forces at the Cape capitulated to the British forces two days later. The wreck has been worked on and cannon from the site stood outside the Simon's Town Post Office. Depth: Maximum depth is about 4 m. The average depth is likely to be about 3 m. Marine life: The wreckage is largely overgrown with kelp and seaweeds, and has shallow water invertebrates, and often a few fish Features: Historical wooden shipwreck. The wreckage is low and heavily overgrown with seaweed and invertebrates. The wreck is protected by legislation and may not be disturbed. Photography: The water is very shallow, and natural light should allow almost any equipment to be used, but the subject matter is rather limited. Topography: The wreck lies in shallow water (about 3.5 m) The area is fine sand with some low sandstone reef to the South. The wood structure of the wreck has become very overgrown over the years and is not easily recognisable over large areas The wreck lies approximately parallel to the shoreline.