HMAS SWAN.

The former Destroyer-Escort SWAN may be sitting in Davey Jones' locker off Western Australia, but she still has plenty of visitors.

Since being given to the Western Australian Government in 1997 and then sunk, the old timer has been visited by an estimated 14,000 Australian and overseas divers, according to Defence Minister, Mr John Moore.

Mr Moore told of SWAN's tourist attractions when he formally announced that the former HMAS HOBART has been gifted to the South Australian Government for use as a recreational diving attraction.

"This is the first time the Federal Government has made a gift of this type to South Australia," the Minister said.

"There has been great interest in obtaining HOBART and this decision has the potential to provide a real boost to the local tourist industry.

"The former destroyer-escort SWAN, which was given to the Western Australian Government in 1997, has been dived on by an estimated 14,000 Australian and overseas divers.

"I am advised that this has contributed an additional $5.2 million in earnings to Western Australia."

HOBART is a Charles F Adams class destroyer which saw 35 years service in the RAN.

She was commissioned on December 18, 1965.

She completed three tours of duty with US forces during the Vietnam War, coming under fire while serving as a unit of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet.

She is being towed to South Australia and scuttled off Fleurieu Peninsula.