Meet the site
The Yatala Reef is one of the youngest wrecks on the Investigator Strait Shipwreck Trail and one of the least visited. She was a wooden, cutter-rigged motor vessel built in Melbourne in 1948 for the Royal Australian Air Force, and later worked as a fishing and cargo vessel in South Australian waters. On 21 December 1981, off Port Moorowie, a fire broke out in her engine room. The four crew abandoned ship safely before the fire triggered three explosions, and the burnt-out vessel sank about 800 m offshore in around 11 m. Because she was timber-built and burnt before sinking, what remains is a low profile of framing, planking fragments, the engine and metal fittings spread across the sand and seagrass rather than a recognisable hull. The Department for Environment and Water describes the site as home to abundant fish life, and the wreckage has become a small reef oasis with leatherjackets, old wives, magpie perch, sweep, trevally and schools of small baitfish, along with crabs, octopus and encrusting sponges and algae. It is a straightforward depth for Open Water divers, but access limits its popularity: Port Moorowie is a remote shack settlement with only a beach launch, and the south coast of the peninsula is exposed to swell from Investigator Strait. Most visitors are divers working through the shipwreck trail, or locals looking for a quick dive close to home. As a protected historic shipwreck (vessels over 75 years old and those declared under the Act), and part of an interpretive trail, it should be treated gently. Combine it with a look at the reefs along this stretch of coast or with a trip to Troubridge Point and the Clan Ranald further east.
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 Yatala Reef Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Yorke Peninsula. 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.
- 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 Yatala Reef 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 MV Yatala Reef 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
Leatherjackets, old wives, magpie perch, sweep, trevally, baitfish schools, octopus, crabs, sponges and algae on wreckage
Location
Wooden motor vessel burnt and sunk in 1981, lying in about 11 m some 800 m off Port Moorowie on the south coast of Yorke Peninsula, west of Troubridge Point.
Facilities nearby
Beach launch and shacks at Port Moorowie; fuel and shops in Yorketown (15 km); air fills at Edithburgh.
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
environment.sa.gov.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.