Meet the site
The Litherland was a whaling ship carrying coal from Newcastle to Hobart when a storm drove her ashore while at anchor off Clarke Island on 23 June 1853. The Marine Life Network guide rates the wreck 6 out of 10: lying on a sandy bottom close to granite boulders and pointing seaward, with whaling trypots on the deeper portion and ship timbers and smaller artefacts visible in 6-8 m. It was declared historic in the early 1980s because of its significance to whaling history. Local advice from Flinders Island Dive or the charter skippers at Lady Barron on current conditions, tides and exact positions is the best starting point for any dive here.
The Furneaux Group - Flinders, Cape Barren, Clarke, Preservation and dozens of smaller islands - is one of Australia's least-dived temperate regions. Granite dominates, but Flinders Island also has unusual limestone reefs, and the islands' position on the eastern approach to Bass Strait left a long trail of shipwrecks from the colony's earliest years. The Marine Life Network guide remains the fullest published account of the dive sites; since then Flinders Island Dive at Emita has made air and guiding available on the island.
All wrecks over 75 years old are protected under Commonwealth and Tasmanian heritage law: nothing may be disturbed or removed, and new finds should be reported to the Parks and Wildlife Service. There is no chamber on the island, so a diving injury means aeromedical evacuation to Hobart or Melbourne; dive conservatively and carry oxygen.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Litherland (Clarke Island) is recorded as Wreck in Flinders Island & Furneaux Group. The listed access is boat. 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.
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 Litherland (Clarke Island) 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 Litherland (Clarke 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
Sand-dwelling fish, wrasse, leatherjackets
Location
Wreck of the whaling ship Litherland (1853) on a sandy bottom near granite boulders at Clarke Island, with trypots visible, in 6-8 m.
Facilities nearby
Whitemark: shops, fuel, hospital (no chamber), accommodation. Lady Barron: ramp, fuel, pub, store. Emita: Flinders Island Dive (air, hire) and Furneaux Museum.
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
marinelife.org.auflindersislanddive.com.auvisitflindersisland.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.