Meet the site
The Lady Bowen is the best-known shipwreck dive on the Cassowary Coast. Built as a paddle steamer and converted around 1890 into a four-masted iron sailing vessel about 66-69 m long, she foundered in severe weather on Kennedy Shoal, between Mission Beach and Cardwell, in 1894. According to the Queensland Government, all twelve crew survived, rowing to the beach at Cardwell and reporting the loss by telegraph; tourism listings say she struck a reef almost 48 km from where she finally sank. The wreck lay undiscovered for more than a century until north Queensland divers found it in 1996. In 2013 a brass porthole taken from the wreck turned up for sale on eBay and was returned to the Cardwell and District Historical Society's museum. Today the wreck sits upright on sand in about 34 m, its wooden decking long gone, leaving the iron hull, ribs, ballast, broken planks, a large anchor winch and an anchor, according to marinelife.org.au. More than a century underwater has turned it into an artificial reef, with coral growth over the structure and a resident population of large fish. Divers report flowery and Queensland groupers, sea snakes, big turtles, lionfish, barracuda, whitetip reef sharks, bull rays, yellow snapper schools and trevally. The depth means short bottom times on air, and nitrox or a conservative profile is sensible. The wreck is historic and protected: nothing may be touched or removed. It suits experienced divers with deep certification. The upright position and open hull make navigation straightforward: a lap of the wreck and a slow ascent up the line fits comfortably into a no-decompression dive on nitrox.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Lady Bowen wreck is recorded as Wreck in Mission Beach & Cassowary Coast. 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 Lady Bowen 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 Lady Bowen 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
Queensland and flowery groupers, sea snakes, turtles, lionfish, barracuda, whitetip reef sharks, bull rays, yellow snapper schools, trevally, coral growth on the hull
Location
Iron wreck of the former paddle steamer Lady Bowen, sunk in 1894 on Kennedy Shoal between Mission Beach and Cardwell, lying on sand in about 34 m.
Facilities nearby
Departs Clump Point jetty/marina, Mission Beach: parking, boat ramp; dive shop in Mission Beach
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
statements.qld.gov.autropicalnorthqueensland.org.aumarinelife.org.auscuba-addict.co.ukdivescover.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.