Key Biscayne
GPS: S 31° 09.886'
E 115° 11.833'
Location: Ledge Point
Site depth: 42 metres
Divable conditions:
Visibilty: 10-40 metres
Vessel: Jack up Oil Rig
Construction: Steel
Tons: 2695 tons
Vessel length: N/A
Wreck event: Capsized 1983
The 2695 ton jack up oil rig, the Key Biscayne was lost while under tow to Fremantle from the Arafura Sea on the afternoon of September 1st 1983. After the evacuation of the remaining crew and the final tow line being severed in gale force winds, the Key Biscayne was last seen slipping under the waves at 6:45pm.
The wreck settled upside down with the jack up legs collapsing towards the north of the platform. One of Perth's most spectacular dives, the legs to the north of the site are usually home to Grey Nurse Sharks and an abundance of large demersal fish, crayfish can be seen amongst the twisted wreckage beneath the drilling platform and large wobbegong sharks can usually be found hanging around the spud foot at the shallowest part of the wreck. The wreck lays at a maximum depth of 42 metres with the shallowest part of the drilling platform starting at 26 metres.
Being 9 miles west of Ledge Point and 12 miles south west of Lancelin the location of the Key Biscayne offers no protection from the weather while anchored on the wreck therefor it is best dived in light winds with a reliable forecast predicted, the site is dived comfortably in a 1 metre swell or less. At certain times of the year very strong currents flow over the site and they should not be underestimated. The nearest Sea Rescue is based at Lancelin and they will log your dives over marine radio, phone coverage should never be relied on anyway and coverage is intermittent at the Key Biscayne.
Caution should always be taken when anchoring or tying off to the wreck, anchors usually get entangled in the twisted mess below. One of the best ways to dive the site is with two buddy pairs, alternating dives and surface intervals while always leaving a competent person topside running a live boat without anchoring and diving a shot line to the shallowest point of the wreck. Most Perth dive companies and dive charter boats visit the Key Biscayne at least once each dive season, usually after March.