Meet the site
The Kay Lee was a 50 ft (15 m), 15-ton steel commercial fishing boat donated by John Conway and scuttled as an artificial reef near the Truck Tipper site off Lee Point in August 2005. The Lee Point reefs are NT Fisheries artificial reefs in about 15 m on the open coast north-east of Darwin, built up since the 1990s from decommissioned plant, concrete culverts, shipping containers and old vessels, and expanded in 2011 with 600 six-metre concrete culverts laid in a 3.6 km pattern between the Rick Mills and Bottle Washer reefs. Local fishers and DSAC have added small scuttled boats. The reefs are primarily fishing structures, so expect boats on the marks and fishing tackle on the bottom, but they give divers structure, fish and shelter from the harbour's tidal race.
She sits upright on the bottom in about 14 m with a slight list to port, and she is remarkably complete. The wheelhouse and shade structure are intact, with exhaust stacks, radio antennas and work lights still on the wheelhouse roof. The wheelhouse has lost its door and one front window, so you can see in - it is filling with silt. Two open hatches lie on the foredeck and another behind the wheelhouse leads into the engine room. The Kay Lee's best-known resident is a very large grouper, estimated by DSAC at about 1.8 m, along with a variety of smaller fish. As a shallow, intact, upright fishing boat with an obvious layout, it is an ideal wreck for newer divers and for photographers, and it pairs well with the neighbouring Truck Tipper reef. It shows how quickly a clean, well-prepared hull becomes habitat on the Lee Point reef system.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Kay Lee is recorded as Wreck in Darwin Harbour. 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- 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 Kay Lee 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 Kay Lee 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
Very large grouper (Queensland groper/estuary cod), golden snapper, black jewfish, Spanish flag, batfish, baitfish
Location
Scuttled near the Truck Tipper artificial reef off Lee Point in 14 m.
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
dsac.com.aunt.gov.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.