Meet the site
The Hive was a ship-rigged vessel built at Deptford, Kent, in 1820 – about 37 m long and 440 tonnes, with two decks, a square stern, quarter galleries and a female bust figurehead. On her second voyage as a convict transport, carrying 250 Irish male convicts, she ran onto the sand at Wreck Bay near midnight on 10 December 1835, after Captain John Nutting ignored warnings from his chief officer that the ship was too close to land. She ran through the sand on a gently shelving beach rather than striking rocks, and the convicts, crew and guards were landed – one of the more remarkable survival stories of the convict era.
The wreck lies about 40 m offshore at Bherwerre Beach, now in Jervis Bay Territory within Booderee National Park, at approximately 35° 10' 07" S 150° 38' 07" E. In 1994 heritage archaeologists detected remains 1.8–2.5 m below the sand in about 2 m of water, over an area of roughly 15 by 8 m; probing found buried British oak timbers and suggested that part of the lower hull and possibly deck levels survive. The site was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 2010.
It is included because it is one of the nine known shipwrecks in and around the Jervis Bay area and one of the most historically significant on the NSW coast. The Wreck Bay coastline and the museum in Huskisson tell the story better than the water does.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Hive Wreck Site is recorded as Wreck in Shoalhaven Coast. The listed access is shore. 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 Hive Wreck Site 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 Hive Wreck Site 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
Sand-dwelling species only (surf zone) – whiting, flathead, stingrays
Location
Buried remains of the convict transport Hive (wrecked 1835) about 40 m offshore at Bherwerre Beach, Jervis Bay Territory, in about 2 m of water under 1.8–2.5 m of sand.
Facilities nearby
Booderee National Park day-use areas; no facilities on Bherwerre Beach itself.
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
en.wikipedia.orgRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.