Locals on South Australia’s Limestone Coast are immersing themselves in the region’s history this week as part of the Geltwood Festival, named after one of Australia’s worst maritime disasters.

The Geltwood sank in one of South Australia’s most treacherous sections of coastline on its maiden voyage in 1876, claiming 31 lives.

Now diver Brian Foster and mate Steve Saville have released the most recent and rare video of the sunken ship.

“It’s a little bit eerie, not scary, but I like to show a little bit of respect for the people that died there, and that’s always in the back of your mind,” Mr Foster said.

While the wreck is showing more signs of deterioration, but some things are still intact.

The saga of the Geltwood caused real embarrassment for some Millicent residents and nearby farmers, especially when police found some of the ship’s cargo in the sheds and homesteads of some prominent locals.

Some escaped with fines, but others were jailed for years over the thefts.

But Mr Foster believes some of the stolen cargo is still yet to be found.

“The landmarks would have changed, the sand would have moved, and it may not be possible to find them again,” he said.

Video of the Geltwood and other shipwrecks around the state are available on the Oz Diver Down Youtube channel.