Meet the site
The Apollo is the biggest and most intact of the dumb barges sunk in the Long Reef artificial reef area, and for divers who have exhausted the ferries it is often the favourite. It is an unpowered hopper barge roughly 60 m long, 10 m wide and 6 m deep, of the type used to carry dredge spoil out to sea and dump it through bottom doors. Its working name is unknown; it was probably scuttled around 1980 with the rest of the reef program, and was found by Peter Fields and John Riley while searching for another wreck. They named it after the dive-gear sponsor of their expedition. It sits upright on sand at 45–47 m with the deck at about 41 m, roughly 1.2 km south-south-west of the Dee Why and 11.6 km north of Sydney Heads. From the blunt bow with its anchor winch, a forward hatch drops into a large silt-filled compartment; behind it the hopper holds are divided into bays with the twin bottom-door mechanisms still visible. At the stern is a small engine room housing a three-cylinder diesel that powered the winches and doors, a bridge structure with side doors, and hull plating that is beginning to rust through. Sydney Dive Charters describe two entry points into the machinery space, which is home to schools of blue morwong. The rear holds hold the densest fish: bastard trumpeter and jewfish in numbers. Visibility is usually 15–20 m and current is seldom a problem, so with good gas planning this is one of the more relaxed dives at the depth. Anchoring must be precise because the bottom around the barge is sand with isolated rocks that will not hold. It suits decompression divers who have done the Dee Why and want an intact structure with penetration options; the silt inside the compartments is the principal reason to make a first dive an external tour only.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Apollo Barge wreck is recorded as Wreck in Sydney Northern Beaches. The listed access is boat. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Apollo Barge wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Apollo Barge wreck through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Jewfish, bastard trumpeter, blue morwong, bullseyes, kingfish, wobbegongs, sponges and anemones
Location
Large unpowered hopper barge, about 60 m long, scuttled around 1980 some 1.2 km south-south-west of the Dee Why ferry; upright on sand in 45–47 m.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infosydneydivecharters.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.