Meet the site
The Marietta Dal was a freighter that UniDive describes as a Liberty ship built at the end of the Second World War. In 1950 she ran aground on Smith Rock off Cape Moreton carrying a mixed cargo of oils, chemicals, machinery and 76 tractors. She broke in two, and attempts at salvage were abandoned because of the heavy seas that regularly batter the rock. Today she lies in 12-15 m, with the hull resting flat on the ocean floor at about 13 m and the cargo scattered around it. This is the shallowest and most accessible of the three Smith Rock wrecks and suits open-water divers when the sea is calm. The highlights are the cargo and the machinery: the farm tractors are still recognisable among the wreckage, and the giant propeller shaft, about 50 m long, runs across the site and makes an easy navigation line. Plates, frames and machinery form a maze of shelter for fish, and the wreck is well grown with sponges and corals. Schools of reef fish, rays, wobbegongs and crayfish are typical, with pelagic fish passing through from the surrounding open water. The shallow depth gives plenty of bottom time, but it also means the site feels every bit of swell passing over it, so surge is the main limitation. Many divers combine the Marietta Dal with a dive on Smith Rock itself or with Flinders Reef. It is a good introduction to wreck diving outside the bay and an interesting piece of post-war maritime history.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Marietta Dal Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Brisbane & Moreton Bay. 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.
- 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.
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 Marietta Dal 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 Marietta Dal 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
Reef fish schools, crayfish, wobbegongs, rays, pelagic fish, sponges and corals
Location
Broken remains of a Norwegian-registered Liberty-type freighter lying flat in about 13 m near Smith Rock, off Cape Moreton.
Facilities nearby
Departure facilities at Manly or Scarborough boat harbours.
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.auunidive.orgsupercatcharters.com.aunigelmarshphotography.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.