Meet the site
The Reef Princess was a timber-hulled dive and charter vessel that sank at Wheeler Reef on 4 October 1981. According to the North Queensland Underwater Explorers Club, she had 38 passengers and crew aboard when a storm with 45-knot winds and torrential rain struck; the vessel foundered among a group of bommies near the small sand cay on the reef. Everyone was recovered, but the timber hull broke up rapidly in the surge, and by March 1985 club divers reported 'very little to discern it as a vessel'. Today this is less a wreck dive than a piece of reef history. What remains – scattered fittings, metal components and perhaps engine parts – lies among coral bommies in shallow water near the cay, and has been colonised by the same corals and reef fish as the surrounding reef. Divers who know the story can spend part of a Wheeler Reef dive searching the sand gutters between bommies, but anyone expecting a hull will be disappointed. The site's significance is local: the loss was one of the defining incidents in the early history of dive tourism out of Townsville, and it is a reminder of how quickly weather can change on the open mid-shelf reefs. It sits in the green-zoned part of Wheeler Reef, so the usual rules apply – no collecting, no fishing, no anchoring on coral – and any artefacts should be left in place. Wheeler Reef itself rewards the trip, with deep bommies to 25 m, sand patches with garden eels and razorfish, a reef edge with swim-throughs and a cleaning station, plus good numbers of reef sharks, trout and sweetlips. The Reef Princess remains are best treated as a curiosity added to a shallow bommie dive rather than a destination in their own right. Coordinates are not published and no operator lists the site, so confidence in its exact location and current condition is low.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
MV Reef Princess Wreck (Wheeler Reef) is recorded as Wreck in Townsville & Magnetic Island. 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.
- 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 MV Reef Princess Wreck (Wheeler Reef) 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 MV Reef Princess Wreck (Wheeler Reef) 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 on surrounding bommies – coral trout, sweetlips, Moses perch, damselfish, parrotfish; garden eels and razorfish on sand; reef sharks nearby
Location
Scattered remains of a timber dive-charter vessel lost among the bommies near the small sand cay on Wheeler Reef in 1981.
Facilities nearby
Departures from Breakwater Marina, Townsville (fuel wharf, cafes, paid parking) and Nelly Bay ferry terminal, Magnetic Island. Air fills and hire at Adrenalin Snorkel & Dive (South Townsville) and Pleasure Divers (Arcadia, Magnetic Island).
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
nquec.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
