Western Australia’s annual Rottnest Swim is always eventful, but the drama hit new heights – or lows rather – at last weekend’s 2022 event, when a boat involved in the event capsized near Swanbourne on Sunday.

Fortunately 83-year-old Dave Barnett was around, as he has been for several of the swims.

Mr Barnett has been salvaging vessels from the ocean floor for 55 years through his company Offshore Moorings.

He told Steve Mills on Millsy at Midday the Rotto event was always a busy day for him, but this year particularly so after spending all day on Sunday salvaging a boat from Swanbourne Beach.

“It was only 12m down in this case… but they’re all rescuable,” he told Mills, saying salvaging boats was a costly undertaking.

“Regulations mean we have to have a surveyed salvage vessel and a qualified dive team of at least three people, possibly four.”

Press PLAY below to hear more from Dave on salvaging boats.

Image: A salvage job in the Kimberly from March 2019 (Picture credit: Dave Barnett)