Meet the site
HNLMS K XI was the lead boat of the Dutch Navy's K XI class of colonial submarines, ordered in 1919, laid down at the Fijenoord yard in 1922 and commissioned in 1924. The K stood for Koloniaal: these boats served in the Dutch East Indies. In December 1941 she attacked Japanese landing forces off Malaya, and she rescued 13 survivors of HMAS Yarra. She later served under British command from Colombo and, from February 1945, under US command from Fremantle. Declared obsolete in May 1945, she was handed to Australian authorities for salvage.
While being stripped alongside North Wharf in Fremantle on 28 March 1946, she sank in 14 m. Salvage diver Hillary Malone spent months sealing 310 openings before she was refloated on 28 June 1946, and she was reportedly scuttled in September 1946 near the Rottnest ship graveyard. Her true position remained unknown until 1 January 2025, when Andrew Oakley (WreckSploration), David Jackson (Diving Western Australia's Shipwrecks) and Patrick Morrison (WA Museum) found her about 15 km from the recorded site using aerial magnetometer and side-scan sonar surveys. The WA Museum formally identified her in February 2025.
The 66.7 m hull lies on sand in 38 m, bow to the north-west. Roughly three-quarters is below the seafloor, with the stern sunk about 3 m. Visible features include the large flange where the conning tower was removed, the aft crew hatch, two cut-away sections exposing machinery, and four forward torpedo tubes. Coral growth covers the structure, and the steel has little integrity left.
The K XI is a protected heritage wreck and a new work-up site for Perth technical divers.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
HNLMS K XI Submarine Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Rottnest Island. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 HNLMS K XI Submarine Wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). 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 HNLMS K XI Submarine 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
Coral and sponge growth on the hull; pelagic and demersal fish around the wreck (not yet documented in detail)
Location
The Dutch WWII submarine K XI, scuttled in 1946 and found on 1 January 2025 in 38 m, 8 nautical miles west of Carnac Island and 7.8 nautical miles south of Rottnest.
Facilities nearby
Woodman Point boat ramp (parking, toilets); Leeuwin Boat Ramp, East Fremantle.
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.comdivingwawrecks.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.