Meet the site
The Lena is the main dive attraction of Bunbury and one of the best purpose-sunk wrecks on the WA coast for Open Water divers. She was a 55 m, Russian-registered steel fishing vessel caught by the Royal Australian Navy poaching Patagonian toothfish in Australian waters about 4,000 km south of Albany, after a long pursuit. Brought to Fremantle and placed under the control of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, she was due to be scuttled in deep water until the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industry won a bid to sink her as a local dive attraction. After 12 months' preparation she was sunk with explosives on 19 December 2003, three nautical miles off Bunbury, and settled upright in 17 m with her bow to the west.
Most of the dive is spent between 8 and 14 m, so bottom times are long and the whole ship can be explored in about 45 minutes. Marinelife.org.au describes large, open internal spaces with three or four exits, chairs, the fish processing plant, the main engine, generators and an intact propeller. Octopus Garden reports more than 110 species of marine life on the wreck and calls it a photographer's paradise, with nudibranchs and seahorses among the fish.
The wreck is changing. Divingwawrecks notes that after the 2022/23 summer, sections were deteriorating and collapsing each winter under large swells, and advises caution with unstable deck plating during penetration. It remains an easy, fishy, well-structured wreck that suits Open Water divers, wreck-course students and photographers, and it pairs well with the Bunbury artificial reef or the coral lumps offshore.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Lena Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Geographe Bay & Busselton. 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.
- 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 Lena Wreck 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 Lena 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
Pink snapper, western king wrasse, silver trevally, bullseyes, old wife, wobbegong sharks, stingrays, nudibranchs, seahorses, sponges and soft corals - over 110 species recorded
Location
Confiscated 55 m steel toothfish poacher scuttled in 17-18 m about 3 nautical miles off Bunbury, lying with its bow to the west.
Facilities nearby
Casuarina Boat Harbour ramp and parking; Bunbury has dive shops (Coastal Water Dive) for fills and hire, cafes and accommodation.
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
divingwawrecks.comoctopusgardendivecharters.com.aumarinelife.org.audivingwawrecks.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.