Meet the site
Bottlewasher Reef is Darwin's quirkiest artificial reef. Its centrepiece is a decommissioned Coca-Cola bottle-washing machine – a large steel industrial unit from a bottling plant – sunk at Anglers Reef off Lee Point together with about 1,500 tonnes of concrete culverts. The NT Government lists the site at 15 m; DSAC records a maximum of 12 m, reflecting how much the depth varies with the tide.
The bottle washer stands up off the bottom as a boxy steel frame full of gantries, rollers and compartments, which gives fish plenty of places to hide and gives divers a recognisable feature in poor visibility. Around it the culverts lie in piles and scattered blocks, forming ledges and short tunnels.
Marine growth is heavy: sponges, oysters, hydroids and algae coat the steel, with small soft corals on the upper parts. Resident fish include golden snapper, fingermark, estuary cod and black jewfish, and baitfish schools draw trevally and queenfish. The rubble and mud margins are worth checking for rays, flathead, octopus and crabs.
The combination of shallow depth and a close-to-ramp position makes Bottlewasher one of the easier offshore dives for Darwin boat owners. Visibility is the constant challenge – typically a few metres, and sometimes less – so this is a site for patient divers who enjoy fish encounters at close range rather than wide views. It suits Open Water divers with local experience and makes a good check-out or second dive. Because Rick Mills and Truck Tipper are only a few kilometres to the west, a boat can cover all three Lee Point reefs on one neap-tide morning, and comparing the three shows how different scrap materials have been colonised over the years.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Bottlewasher Artificial Reef is recorded as Artificial Reef in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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.
- 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 Bottlewasher Artificial Reef suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. 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 Bottlewasher Artificial Reef 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
Golden snapper, fingermark, estuary cod, black jewfish, trevally, queenfish, baitfish, rays, flathead, octopus, crabs, sponges, oysters
Location
Easternmost Lee Point reef at Anglers Reef, off the entrance to Shoal Bay (12°18.159'S 130°51.765'E).
Facilities nearby
Buffalo Creek boat ramp (trailer parking, no fuel); nearest air fills and fuel in Darwin.
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
nt.gov.audsac.com.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
