Explore Australian wreck diving →

Western Australia · Wreck

Calliance Wreck (Camden Harbour)

A relic of the failed 1864 Camden Harbour settlement.

Broome & KimberleyBoat (multi-day/liveaboard)
YouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph or site map

Mascot illustration — not a photograph or site map.

Depth
0–5 m
Certification
Snorkel/Any
Access
Boat (multi-day/liveaboard)
Dive type
Wreck
Region
Broome & Kimberley

Depth describes the recorded site range, not a recommended dive depth. Certification is a recorded recommendation; suitability depends on your planned route, training, experience and current conditions.

GET YOUR BEARINGS

Location & map

Approximate area

Interactive map provided by Google Maps. If the map does not load, use the larger-map link.

Meet the site

The Calliance was one of the ships carrying settlers to the short-lived Camden Harbour pastoral settlement in 1864–65. Little remains beyond a pile of ballast stones exposed at low tide at Calliance Point. Divingwawrecks warns that the location is remote, with saltwater crocodiles, and that 'the reward is far outweighed by the risk' — so this is a site to view, not dive.

Kimberley diving context: the Kimberley coast between Broome and Wyndham is one of the least-dived coastlines in Australia. Huge tides (up to 10–11 m), turbid inshore water, saltwater crocodiles around the islands and rivers, and large sharks mean that inshore diving is generally discouraged by experienced local boaters, and expedition cruise ships mostly offer snorkelling or Zodiac excursions rather than scuba. The serious diving is offshore, on atolls and island reefs far from river run-off, visited on a handful of liveaboard departures a year from Broome or Darwin. Medical help is many hours away; divers should be conservative and carry DAN or equivalent evacuation cover.

Planning notes: this is primarily a snorkelling site. Expect to spend most of the dive around 2 m, with a maximum of about 5 m. It can only be reached on a multi-day expedition or liveaboard, so it is usually one of several sites dived on the trip and choices are made by the crew on the day. Currents are significant, so timing around the tide is part of the plan. Best season: September–November (calmest window). Traffic: remote/expedition only.

Some details in this record need confirmation. Check the source information and speak with a local operator.

Research this site before booking

Calliance Wreck (Camden Harbour) is recorded as Wreck in Broome & Kimberley. The listed access is boat (multi-day/liveaboard). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.

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 Calliance Wreck (Camden Harbour) suitable for my certification?

The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Calliance Wreck (Camden Harbour) 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

Mangrove and mudflat life

Location

Ballast-stone pile of the 1864 settler ship Calliance at Calliance Point, Camden Harbour, on the remote Kimberley coast, exposed at low tide.

Facilities nearby

None – remote; all services on the vessel.

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

divingwawrecks.com

Record updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.

More records in this region

Grouped by directory region, not distance or equivalent difficulty.