Meet the site
The Bronzewing was a small steel tug, 17.7 m long, built in 1930 for the Royal Australian Navy. After a long working life she was acquired by the Port Lincoln Game Fishing Club and scuttled in Boston Bay in 1990 as an artificial reef. The Marine Life Society places her near Bass Shoal, about a nautical mile off Port Lincoln, in 5-7 m. Shallow scuttled vessels in sheltered bays become fish magnets quickly, and after more than three decades the tug is encrusted with algae, sponges and ascidians and attracts leatherjackets, old wives, magpie perch, tommy ruff, King George whiting and snapper, with crabs and octopus in the structure. Cuttlefish and squid are common in the bay. The Society notes the site can suffer from poor visibility, as Boston Bay is shallow and fine sediment is easily stirred. On a calm day with good water, it is a relaxed, easy wreck dive close to town, suitable for Open Water divers and useful for wreck-skills practice. Because no public coordinates are available, divers need local marks. It combines with the town jetty or Kirton Point as a Port Lincoln diving day when weather keeps boats inshore. Recreational fishers target the wreck, so expect anchored boats and lines, particularly at weekends, and keep a cutting tool handy. Visibility is usually best after a run of calm weather and on the top of the tide, when clearer water pushes into the bay from Spencer Gulf. The shallow depth means long bottom times on a single cylinder, and it is a good place to practise wreck navigation and buoyancy before tackling deeper wrecks elsewhere in the state.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Bronzewing Tug Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Eyre Peninsula. 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.
- 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.
- 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 Bronzewing Tug Wreck 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 Bronzewing Tug 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
Leatherjackets, old wives, magpie perch, tommy ruff, King George whiting, snapper, crabs, octopus, cuttlefish, squid, algae and sponges
Location
17.7 m steel tug built in 1930 for the Royal Australian Navy, scuttled in 1990 as an artificial reef in 5-7 m in Boston Bay near Bass Shoal, about 1 nautical mile off Port Lincoln.
Facilities nearby
Lincoln Cove Marina and town ramps.
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
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.