What remains of the hull?
After sinking-damaged but substantially intact-the hull settled into the sea floor on its starboard side and appears to have been buried over time. As layers of sediment were accumulating within and around the hull, the exposed upper levels of the vessel collapsed and disintegrated as a result of attack by marine borers, the effect of currents and, to a lesser extent, wave motion (Stages 1 and 2).
The distribution of the visible features of the wreck attests to sediment build-up and the gradual collapse and disintegration of the exposed upper hull levels-i.e. burial from the bottom up and physical disintegration from the top down. These two processes probably took several decades, possibly up to 60 - 70 years (Stages 3).
As the Pandora disintegrated, objects tumbled out of the wreck and were deposited on the seafloor around the wreck. Some were then buried; others may have been swept some distance from the wrecked hull or become trapped under the stern before its final collapse.
The most recognisable and visible features of the wreck include several large iron objects on the sea floor-e.g. an anchor and the vessel's galley (Brodie) stove.
Using remote sensing equipment, several attempts have been made to determine the extent and condition of the hull's remains, but these have given indications only. From what has been exposed to date, indications are that approximately 30% of the original hull has been preserved (Stage 4). The timbers that have actually been seen so far appear to be in good condition. But there is evidence of collapse of deck beams and possibly of frames.
There are still numerous unanswered questions about the structural cohesion of the surviving timbers. A definitive assessment of the extent, cohesion and condition of the buried hull remains can only be made after excavation has uncovered them. This would require retrieval of the entire artefact assemblage lying buried in the sediment in and around the hull.
In 1995 it was estimated that approximately 590 cubic metres of sediment would require systematic excavation to uncover all of the hull remains. To date (2005) approximately 240 cubic metres have been excavated.
One of the Pandora's anchors on the sea floor. This was the anchor dropped "underfoot"-closest to the western reef-just after the crew had re-floated the vessel from the reef.