Meet the site
The Cheynes III is a small wreck with a large place in Australian diving history: scuttled by the South Coast Divers Club in 1982 (some sources say 1983), it is widely described as the first vessel purpose-prepared and sunk as a dive wreck in the southern hemisphere, predating the Swan and Perth by 15-20 years.
She was a 48 m, 440 t steel whale chaser built in 1943 and bought in 1963 by the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company, which operated Australia's last whaling station at Frenchman Bay across the sound. The chasers ran out of the station hunting sperm whales off the continental shelf until commercial whaling in Australia ended in November 1978. With the station closed, Cheynes III lay derelict until the dive club acquired her, stripped her and sank her on the western side of Michaelmas Island. Her sister chaser Cheynes IV is preserved on dry land at the Albany Historic Whaling Station, which makes a good pairing for divers interested in the history.
After more than 40 years underwater the wreck still sits upright on sand at around 19-23 m, but the midships section has collapsed and penetration is now considered unsafe; the wheelhouse and engine room areas that older guides describe can be looked into but not safely entered. The hull is thick with sponges, soft corals, ascidians and anemones and holds a dense population of fish: boarfish, morwong, blue groper, bullseyes, old wives, silver drummer, leatherjackets and schools of scad, with snapper, jewfish, kingfish and samson fish cruising the edges.
It is a compact, relaxed dive that an Open Water diver can cover comfortably in one tank, and a good second dive after the Perth. Visibility is rarely spectacular, but the density of life and the history make it worthwhile.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Cheynes III Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Albany & Great Southern. 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.
- 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 Cheynes III Wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Cheynes III 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
Boarfish, morwong, blue groper, bullseyes, old wives, perch, snapper, WA jewfish, silver drummer, yellowtail kingfish, samson fish, leatherjackets, scalyfin, sponges, soft corals, anemones
Location
Former Cheynes Beach Whaling Company whale chaser scuttled in 1982 in about 19-23 m off the western side of Michaelmas Island in King George Sound.
Facilities nearby
Emu Point boat ramp (parking, toilets, fish-cleaning tables); air and gear from South Coast Diving Supplies, Albany.
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.commarinelife.org.aumarinelife.org.auperthscuba.rezdy.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
