Meet the site
HMAS Swan is Western Australia's most famous dive wreck and, according to divingwawrecks, the first purpose-sunk warship prepared as an artificial reef in Australian waters. She was a 113-114 m River-class destroyer escort (DE 50) of about 2,100 tons, built in Victoria in 1968 and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on 20 January 1970. After 27 years and 775,870 nautical miles of service, mostly in South-East Asian and Australian waters, she was stripped, cleaned and scuttled off Eagle Bay in December 1997 in front of about 10,000 spectators. She settled upright on sand at 31 m with a slight list to port, 1 nm north of Eagle Bay.
The wreck rises 24 m from the seabed: the crow's nest is at about 8 m and the main deck at about 18 m, so divers of all levels can enjoy it. Large access holes were cut in the hull before scuttling, allowing light into the interior and giving many safe routes inside and out. Marinelife.org.au describes a grey naval hull lightly dusted with silt and increasingly covered in soft corals, with batfish around the crow's nest and bullseyes, King George whiting, samson fish, dhufish, bream, Shaw's cowfish, western blue devils, sweep and talma. Swan Dive adds groupers, and the UWA Underwater Club notes that multiple dives are needed to see the whole ship.
A Geographe Bay Artificial Reef Society permit is required, and fishing and spearfishing are banned within 200 m of the yellow marker buoy. The wreck suits Open Water divers on the upper decks and Advanced and wreck-trained divers who want to explore inside.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
HMAS Swan Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Geographe Bay & Busselton. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- 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 HMAS Swan Wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 HMAS Swan 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
Batfish (school around the crow's nest), bullseyes, King George whiting, samson fish, dhufish, groupers, bream, Shaw's cowfish, western blue devil, sweep, talma, soft corals and sponges
Location
River-class destroyer escort scuttled as a dive wreck in December 1997, sitting upright in 31 m about 1 nautical mile north of Eagle Bay, between Dunsborough and Cape Naturaliste; two public moorings mark bow and stern.
Facilities nearby
Two public moorings (white floats) at bow and stern; Swan Dive shop and cafe at Port Geographe Marina for permits, fills, nitrox and hire; ramps at Quindalup and Dunsborough.
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.comswandive.com.aubook.bookeasy.commargaretriver.comuwauc.org.aumarinelife.org.aumeeluppark.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.