Encounter (Ex-H.M.S)

• Max Depth:       75 Mtrs
• Average Depth: 72 Mtrs
• Average Viz:      15 Mtrs
• Construction:    Steel     
• Sank In:              1932
• Lives Lost:          0
• Class and type: Challenger class cruiser
• Armament:        11  BL 6-inch (152.4 mm) Mk VII guns, 9 x 12 pounder guns, 8 x 3 pounder guns, 2  18-inch (450-mm) torpedo tubes
• Displacement:   5,880 tons                      
• Length:             376 ft (115 m)               
• Beam:                56 ft (17 m)                    
• Draught:             20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)                       
• Propulsion:        12,500 horsepower                    
• Speed:                21 knots (39 km/h)               

Encounter was laid down for the RN by HM Dockyard at Devonport in Plymouth on 28 January 1901. The ship was launched on 18 June 1902, and completed on 21 November 1905. Loaned to RAN 1912 and transferred to RAN 1919. Encounter paid off into reserve on 30 September 1920, was renamed Penguin on 1 January 1923, and served as an accommodation ship until decommissioned on 15 August 1929.

She was scuttled on 14 September 1932 off Sydney. Used for target practice, hence very broken up, and is more of a wreck site.

She is the largest wreck in Sydney at 115 metres, and 5880 gross tonnage. The bow area is the most dominant feature with some penetration possible. Marine life usually prolific with large schooling fish often seen. This wreck is used for student training on Trimix courses, and is one of the easy wrecks to anchor on.