Meet the site
The Kona was a four-masted wooden schooner of 679 tons and 184 ft, built in 1901, that was wrecked on a shoal in a gale in Antechamber Bay in 1917 after a 73-day voyage from San Francisco. DEW's Kangaroo Island Shipwreck Trail records that her remains lie in shallow water, with the forecastle and bows in about one fathom (roughly 2 m) near Sandy Point; another wreck register describes the wreck as in pieces.
This is a snorkel as much as a dive. The timbers and iron fastenings lie in the shallows among sand and weed, colonised by algae and small fish – leatherjackets, wrasse, juvenile salmon – with crabs and small rays around the wreckage. Visibility varies with wind and swell, and the shallow depth means surge is felt on anything but a calm day. The appeal is historical: standing in waist-to-chest-deep water on the timbers of a sailing ship from the last days of commercial sail.
Antechamber Bay is a quiet corner of the Dudley Peninsula with a campground, a river mouth and beaches, and Cape Willoughby lighthouse is nearby. The Kona's remains are a protected historic shipwreck: look, photograph and leave everything in place. It suits snorkellers, families and divers with an interest in maritime history on a calm day. The Chapman River mouth at Antechamber Bay is also a popular kayaking and camping spot, making the Kona an easy add-on to a relaxed day on the Dudley Peninsula. Low tide on a calm morning gives the best view of the remains.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Kona Wreck (Antechamber Bay) is recorded as Wreck in Kangaroo Island. 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 Kona Wreck (Antechamber Bay) 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 Kona Wreck (Antechamber Bay) 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
Algae, leatherjackets, wrasse, juvenile salmon, crabs, small rays
Location
Remains of the four-masted wooden schooner Kona in very shallow water near Sandy Point, Antechamber Bay, on the Dudley Peninsula facing Backstairs Passage.
Facilities nearby
Antechamber Bay campground (basic facilities); services in Penneshaw.
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
environment.sa.gov.auoceans1.customer.netspace.net.auRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.