The president of the national diving association is calling for the Rena wreck to be left on the Astrolabe Reef as a dive attraction.

NZ Underwater Association president Shane Wasik says comments that the Rena wreck will be ‘dangerous' or ‘kill divers' are misleading.

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He says the wreck has huge potential as a dive attraction and could bring international and national business to the Bay of Plenty.

He says divers are able to undertake specialist wreck diving courses designed to educate and train divers in the equipment, techniques and planning to make exploration safer.

The ship's condition has deteriorated since it grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on October 5, with the worst of the damage coming when the ship split in two during a storm at the weekend.

On Tuesday, January 10, the ship's stern section began to slip down the reef and is now almost completely submerged.

Shane says although the ship is unlikely to stay in the current position with the stern expected to slip further down the reef, it is still a suitable dive wreck.

'Her current position lying on the reef slope provides a range of depths for varying diver experience levels, ranging from those who want to explore the exterior in the shallower water, to technical divers, penetrating the wreck's interior and deeper sections.”

On a business front, Shane says local dive centres and charter boats will benefit from the wreck being left on Astrolabe Reef, with national and international enthusiasts travelling to the area to dive it.

'With the coverage of the Rena being broadcast round the world, many divers would already have added her to their must-do list.

He says wrecks have huge tourism benefits with some being sunk to purposely create dive attractions.

'They bring economic benefits to many businesses and would be a great boost for tourism in Tauranga.”

Dive HQ senior dive instructor Mark Bottcher says the state of the Rena will be too dangerous for recreational divers, but could be dived by more experienced divers, like Shane.

'It would be a bit unsafe for recreational divers, it is quite deep and it gives them incentive to penetrate further into the wreck, because it is so accessible, which will create quite a risk.

'It will be too dangerous for the standard diver, but for more experienced recreational and technical divers, it will be perfect.”

Mark says the way the Rena is ripped in half will mean there are a lot of wires and parts coming out, creating a hazard for divers.

'These are things divers can easily get trapped on; especially down at that depth, they are more susceptible to nitrogen narcosis, where their impairment may be blurred.”

Recreational limits currently allow divers to dive up to 40m, however, Mark says to be able to dive the Rena wreck divers will need to complete a number of advanced courses allowing them to dive up to 60-70m.

'It is past recreational limits, so you are into technical diving.”

Mark agrees there is potential to boost business if the wreck was to be left.

'It will bring a different kind of diving into Tauranga.

'It gives the opportunity for shops to expand their market, to start offering courses like technical diving.

'The potential is huge, it's one of the biggest wrecks around of its kind.”

On an ecological front, Shane, who has an honours degree in marine biology, expects marine life will be quick to colonise the reef and in the long term it will be a diverse and abundant ecosystem.

'Marine life will be quick to colonise the wreck and soon it will act as an artificial reef, ranging from encrusting invertebrates covering the hull, to the many holes providing refuge for crayfish and the structure attracting many species of fish.”

He says a long term salvage operation will only create a 'mess” and leave the underwater environment badly damaged.
'The mess and detriment to the already damaged environment that would be caused by long term salvage would be huge and the negatives of this outweigh any positive.”

Shane has previously been in contact with the ship's owners Costamare and says he will be following up with government departments in regards to the fate of the wreck.