Meet the site
On 4 August 1845 the emigrant ship Cataraqui, bound from Liverpool for Melbourne with 366 passengers and a crew of 43, struck the reef off King Island's south-west coast in a storm at night. The captain believed he was approaching Port Phillip. The Marine Life Network guide recounts how the ship struck the offshore reef at about seven knots, was forced over it, struck several more times and stuck fast about 100 m from shore; passengers and crew were swept from the decks through the night until she broke in two. Only eight crew and one passenger survived, making it Australia's worst civil disaster.
Under water, the guide rates the site 6 out of 10 at 4-7 m: an exposed reef where the wreck has broken up in the shallows, with an anchor and capstan clearly visible and a few artefacts - iron concretions, lead sheeting and pieces of slate - wedged in cracks. Numerous crayfish and schools of fish live on the reef. An account of recovered relics records that divers removed two cannon, an anchor and other items in 1975, and the guide notes the anchors corroded without conservation, a cautionary tale for wreck divers.
King Island has more recorded shipwrecks than anywhere else in Australia - King Island Tourism puts the figure at over sixty - because ships running for Bass Strait on the 'clipper route' from Europe had to thread the gap between the island and Cape Otway, often in fog and gales with uncertain navigation. Most wrecks lie in shallow water on exposed reefs and have been broken up by more than a century of westerly swell, so diving them is about history and scattered remains rather than intact hulls.
All wrecks over 75 years old are protected under Commonwealth and Tasmanian heritage law: look but do not touch, and report any new finds to the Parks and Wildlife Service maritime archaeologist. With no chamber on the island, a diving injury means aeromedical evacuation to Melbourne or Hobart, so dive conservatively and carry oxygen.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Cataraqui is recorded as Wreck in King Island. 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.
- 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 Cataraqui 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 Cataraqui 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
Crayfish, schooling fish, wrasse, leatherjackets, bull kelp
Location
Site of the emigrant ship Cataraqui, wrecked in 1845 on the exposed reef off King Island's south-west coast near Pearshape - Australia's worst civil maritime disaster.
Facilities nearby
Currie: supermarket, cafes, fuel, accommodation, King Island Historical Museum (lighthouse keeper's cottage), hospital (no chamber). Grassy: harbour and boat ramp. No confirmed public air-fill station - arrange locally.
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.aukingisland.org.auoceans1.customer.netspace.net.aukingisland.org.auen.wikipedia.orgRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.