The federal government is looking for bidders to finish a survey of an underwater shipwreck littered with munitions near Halifax.

It's estimated the site of the S.S. City of Vienna off Sambro Island has up to 10,000 munitions. The First World War ship sank almost 100 years ago near the Halifax harbour.

Defence Construction Canada, a Crown corporation that serves the Defence Department, sent out a tender Tuesday.

The government is planning to spend an estimated $310,000 to finish surveying the site.

Terrence Long, chairman of International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions, says the work is necessary.

"There is a potential for a major explosion to happen. What we are aware is when you take munitions and you continually put them in one particular area, if one munitions goes off it has the potential to set off all the other munitions in that particular site."

But local diver Tye Zinck says Ottawa is wasting its money. He's seen the shipwreck several times while diving.

"It's a pretty rough spot," he said.

"Those ordinances have been down there since 1918 and are not doing anything."

Defence Construction Canada said it isn't looking for the old explosives to be disposed of unless the survey suggests it.

The tender closes Aug. 28.