Meet the site
Batman was one of a pair of iron steam hopper barges built for the Melbourne Harbour Trust by William Simons and Co of Renfrew, Scotland, launched on 3 December 1883 – her sister Fawkner had gone down the ways two months earlier. At 388 tons and 47.7 m they carried dredge spoil from the Yarra and the bay channels out to the dumping grounds. During the Russian war scare of 1885 both barges were armed with a 6-inch gun and Nordenfelt machine guns as auxiliary gunboats of the Victorian Navy, and in 1914 Batman served briefly as a non-commissioned minesweeper. After 52 years of unglamorous work she was scuttled on Tuesday 21 May 1935 with two 5-pound charges of blasting gelatine. She lies north–south with the bow to the north in 42–46 m of clear water at the western end of the Graveyard. The bow and stern sections are intact but the hopper midsection has collapsed, so the wreck reads as two solid ends joined by low structure. The bow is the interesting end, dominated by a large upright boiler, and it is where most divers spend their time; the stern retains its shape and shelters ling and crayfish. Sponge and zoanthid growth is good and the Barwon silt is less of a problem here than on the Milora, so visibility of 15–20 m is normal on a calm autumn day. The Batman's virtue is simplicity: a compact, well-defined wreck, top at 39 m and sand at 46 m, that can be covered in one no-fuss lap. That makes it the preferred site for Melbourne technical training – decompression procedures, first trimix dives, stage handling – and for divers making the step from the 35 m subs to genuine decompression wrecks. Pair it with the Fawkner or Dunloe, both within a few hundred metres, on a two-dive technical day.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Batman is recorded as Wreck in Port Phillip Heads. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- 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.
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 Batman 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 Batman 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
Sponges, yellow zoanthids, ling, bullseyes, butterfly perch, southern rock lobster, boarfish, occasional blue devilfish
Location
Western Ships' Graveyard about 8 km south of Barwon Heads, 667 m east of the Dunloe and near the Fawkner.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Queenscliff Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, fills at Dive Victoria/Queenscliff Dive Centre) or Portsea Pier (parking on Point Nepean Road, toilets, cafes).
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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.audivernet.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
