MOSSEL BAY NEWS - After an article on a possible shipwreck on Dias Beach, published in the Mossel Bay Advertiser two weeks ago, the Advertiser received a photo from Rudy Maritz with what looks like a shipwreck in the shallow water at the beach.

There are about 46 shipwrecks from the mouth of the Gourits River to Glentana.

Archaeologist Dr Nick Walker said shipwrecks were a fascinating part of our history and had value for tourism. Shipwrecks older than 60 years are protected by the National Heritage Resources Act, he said.

"The details suggest that the wreck might be that of the Rosebud, but there were several other ships that ended their days on Dias Beach."

Walker also said the municipality should put up a warning notice. "Wrecks in beach sand are periodically exposed and no doubt this will soon be covered again."

André Frazer, station commander at NSRI Station 15 in Mossel Bay also suggested that the wreck on Dias Beach could be the Rosebud.

In 2013 the Advertiser reported that local divers dived to the two wrecks at Dias Beach, presumed to be the Rosebud and King Cenric. They came to the conclusion that the 110-year-old shipwreck, King Cenric, which was a 1 519-ton wooden Norwegian sailing ship, is closer to shore than the Rosebud, which lies in about 15m-deep water. The King Cenric went under on 14 November 1903.

According to Slideshare.net, the British three-masted wooden schooner, Rosebud, 341 tons, sunk on 30 August 1888 at Dias Beach on the way from Calcutta to Cape Town. It was built in Scotland.

Carina Wiggill from Mossel Bay Heritage told the Advertiser that Dias Beach was called Rosebud Beach in the previous century and that the wreck was likely the Rosebud as it was documented that it ran ashore and people where standing waist deep in the water.

It is a case of now you see them, now you don’t, as weather and sea conditions lead to the wrecks being exposed and then hidden again.

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