For the first time, selected members of the public will have the chance to dive to the wreck of the Japanese midget submarine M24.
Two groups of six will be chosen from the ballot to dive the site in November, the 11th anniversary of the M24 site’s discovery.
The public dive open day will remember the people who died the night the Japanese midget submarines entered Sydney Harbour.
NSW Heritage Minister Gabrielle Upton said the dive ballot would be a rare opportunity for people to visit an underwater site of international heritage significance.
“This year marks the 75th anniversary and the one and only time Sydney has come under attack – it’s a significant moment in Australia’s history,” Ms Upton said.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy have managed and protected the site as a restricted zone since the No Frills Divers’ group discovered the site in November 2006.
The dive will be conducted according to strict protections under federal and state laws – there are penalties of up to $1.1million for disturbing the M24 site.
Applications close at 11:59pm on 28 August 2017.
The ballot will be drawn on 13 September 2017.
Apply to dive in the M24 Protected Zone
