Meet the site
The D9 is the most complete wreck in Cockburn Sound: a 51 m steel dredge sitting upright and largely intact in about 12 m, rising around 5 m off the seabed. She was built in the 1930s as the bucket dredge Parmelia, later sold to Dredging Industries Australia, renamed D9 and converted to a suction dredge to maintain the Sound's shipping channels. She foundered in 1962 and was towed to the middle of the Sound and sunk. The bow faces the coast.
Because the hull is intact, it is a proper wreck dive at a shallow depth. Some compartments are still enclosed but full of silt, and the deck and superstructure provide ledges and holes for fish. Snapper, trevally, bullseyes and old wives school around the structure, stingrays rest on the sand beside it, and the steel is covered in sponges, ascidians and invertebrates with plenty of nudibranchs. Octopus, crabs and crayfish come out after dark, which makes it one of the better night dives in the area.
The Sound's fine silt is the main issue. Visibility can be good on a calm day but drops to nothing inside the wreck with one careless kick, so penetration needs wreck training and a line. The wreck is also a popular fishing mark, and lost line and abandoned rope are common.
The D9 suits Open Water divers looking for an intact wreck without the depth or exposure of offshore sites, and trained wreck divers who want an easy penetration practice site in shallow water. It is close enough to Rockingham and Woodman Point for a short morning outing.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
D9 Dredge Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Perth. 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 D9 Dredge 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 D9 Dredge 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
Snapper, trevally, bullseyes, old wives, stingrays, nudibranchs, octopus, crabs, crayfish, sponges, ascidians
Location
Upright 51 m steel suction dredge in 12–13 m in the middle of Cockburn Sound, about 2 nautical miles west of the Alcoa jetty at Kwinana.
Facilities nearby
Naval Base boat ramp (poor condition), Woodman Point and Rockingham boat ramps with parking and toilets.
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.aurockingham.wa.gov.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
