Meet the site
The Lapwing is a small wooden fishing vessel that lies intact on the sea floor in about 32 m in the lee of Long Island, one of the islands of the western Recherche Archipelago off Esperance. Esperance Diving & Fishing describes her as a 32-foot (about 10 m) vessel that is completely intact and covered in soft coral and sponge growth, and Marine Life Network notes reef fish around the hull and a leafy seadragon sighting.
The appeal is a compact, whole wreck in clear water: small enough to see in a single circuit, intact enough to recognise the hull and wheelhouse, and encrusted with colour. Because it lies on open sand in the lee of an island, it acts as a fish attractor, with schools of bullseyes and small reef fish in and around it and larger visitors such as blue groper and queen snapper passing by.
The depth makes it an advanced dive with limited bottom time on air; nitrox with a conservative profile is sensible. Little has been published about the vessel's history or loss, and details such as the year it sank are not publicly documented.
The Lapwing is usually dived as part of a two-dive trip to Long Island, where the island's reefs of large rock formations, caverns and swim-throughs provide a shallower second dive. Because the wreck sits alone on open sand, it acts as a magnet for fish in an otherwise featureless area, and visibility is often 20 m or more, so the whole hull can be seen from a few metres above. Check the operator's schedule well ahead: Lapwing trips run only when enough experienced divers book and the weather is settled.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Lapwing Wreck (Long Island) is recorded as Wreck in Esperance & Recherche Archipelago. 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.
- 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 Lapwing Wreck (Long Island) 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 Lapwing Wreck (Long Island) 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
Soft corals, sponges, bullseyes, blue groper, queen snapper, harlequin fish, leafy seadragon (recorded), reef fish
Location
Wooden fishing vessel lying intact in 32 m in the lee of Long Island in the Recherche Archipelago, covered in soft coral and sponges.
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
esperancedivingandfishing.com.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.