Meet the site
The Catalina JX435 site is the wreck of a Royal Air Force flying boat that crashed in the Cocos lagoon at the end of the Second World War, and it is both a dive site and a war grave. According to the WA Museum's nomination of the site to the Commonwealth Heritage List, Catalina JX435 of 240 Squadron, based at Madras, was carrying materiel and fourteen people when it crashed on 27 June 1945 while landing at Cocos. The pilot attempted a downwind landing in rough seas; the aircraft overturned, broke apart and caught fire, and seven of those on board died. Their bodies were never recovered. Cocos was a strategic mid-ocean base in 1944–45, with an airstrip on West Island and flying boats operating in the lagoon, and the Catalina is a tangible reminder of that period. The wreckage lies in 4–6 m between Direction and Horsburgh Islands. The aircraft inverted and broke up on impact, so there is no intact airframe; instead the two Pratt & Whitney engines and propellers mark the impact point, and fuselage, wing and tail components are spread in a classic wreckage plume extending about 600 m south-west, most of the fuselage now missing. Cyclones have added to the break-up over the decades. Dive Pacific's Cocos feature notes the site can be explored in two dives and that the debris descends from a few metres onto seagrass beds. The shallow depth gives long dives, and the scattered aluminium parts, gradually being colonised, host reef fish, while the surrounding seagrass is feeding ground for turtles. For divers with an interest in aviation or military history it is one of the most poignant sites in the Indian Ocean territories. Visitors should treat it as a memorial: nothing may be touched or removed.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Catalina JX435 Wreck is recorded as Aircraft Wreck in Cocos (Keeling) Islands. 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.
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 Catalina JX435 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 Catalina JX435 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
Reef fish on wreckage, green turtles on seagrass, stingrays, juvenile fish
Location
Scattered remains of a RAF Catalina flying boat in 4–6 m in the lagoon between Direction and Horsburgh Islands, centred on about 12°06'00"S, 96°51'29"E with debris over about 600 m.
Facilities nearby
Departs West Island; no shops or fuel on the outer islands – Cocos Dive supplies lunch on day trips.
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
museum.wa.gov.aumuseum.wa.gov.audivepacific.co.nzRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
