Meet the site
The J-class were the fastest submarines in the world when they were laid down for the Royal Navy in 1915: 84 m long, 1,210 t surfaced and 1,820 t submerged, driven by three diesels for 19 knots on the surface. Six survivors of the class were gifted to the Royal Australian Navy in March 1919, sailed out with the depot ship HMAS Platypus, arrived in Sydney on 15 July 1919 and were based at Geelong from 1920. Post-war budget cuts saw them paid off at Western Port on 12 July 1922, and in January 1924 the Melbourne Salvage Company bought the flotilla for scrap. J2 was launched at Portsmouth on 6 November 1915 and commissioned on 1 June 1916; in June 1917 she took part in Operation BB in the North Sea and may have damaged U-99. Her Australian career was brief and mostly alongside. Stripped at Williamstown, she was scuttled on 1 June 1926 in 120 feet of water and forgotten until the Geelong Skindivers Club relocated her on 10 February 1974. The 'Broken Sub' earns its nickname: the hull fractured about 5 m aft of the conning tower during scuttling, and the two halves now lie at different angles. The forward section lists roughly 45 degrees to starboard, its bow modifications and four torpedo tubes exposed where the bow casing failed, while the after section sits on its keel running north–south with the stern gradually being ground into the surrounding reef. The break is the feature of the dive: you can hover at the open cross-section and look straight into the pressure hull, seeing frames, bulkhead remains and the engine bed without entering. Penetration is possible here but involves twisted, jagged plate and total darkness, and is only for divers with overhead training. A memorial plaque at 36 m recalls a diver who died on the wreck. Marine growth is heavy – sponges, ascidians and zoanthids – and the conning tower carries the usual dense cloud of bullseyes and butterfly perch, with crayfish under the casing and occasional blue devilfish. J2 is the least visited of the four offshore submarines because it lies beside the main shipping channel and pilot boarding ground; charters dive it only at slack water with no ship movements due. That also makes it the most atmospheric. It suits experienced deep divers comfortable with a shot-line descent and ascent, and it is a rewarding second submarine once J4 and J5 have been done.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
J2 Submarine is recorded as Wreck in Port Phillip Heads. 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.
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 J2 Submarine 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 J2 Submarine 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
Sponges, ascidians, yellow zoanthids, bullseyes, butterfly perch, blue devilfish, southern rock lobster, leatherjackets, occasional seal
Location
Eastern Ships' Graveyard about 4 km south of Point Lonsdale, closest of the submarines to the shipping channel into Port Phillip.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Queenscliff Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, fills at Dive Victoria/Queenscliff Dive Centre) or Portsea Pier (parking on Point Nepean Road, toilets, cafes).
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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auen.wikipedia.orgRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
