Meet the site
The Nautilus is the historic wreck of the 1770 area. Built in 1880 by J. Walker & Co. of Maryborough as a steam hopper barge, the 260-ton iron vessel (about 135 ft or 41 m) later worked as a coastal steamer. Marinelife.org.au records that she was damaged on the Pioneer River at Mackay in 1928 and patched with cement, and was lost in heavy weather off Bustard Head while under tow from Mackay to Brisbane. The wreck was rediscovered in 1999 during a Royal Australian Navy mine-sweeping exercise.
The hull lies in about 27 m and is described as intact and penetrable – remarkable for an iron vessel that has been underwater for nearly a century. The attraction, though, is the fish. Local divers rate the Nautilus alongside the famous SS Yongala for fish life: marinelife.org.au reports huge numbers and sizes of fish, large grouper, cobia, eagle rays and 'just about every species of pelagic fish'. On a good day the wreck is shrouded in baitfish with trevally and mackerel working the edges.
Visibility averages around 10 m and there is usually a slight current, so this is a dive for Advanced divers comfortable in open water. Penetration of the hull should only be attempted by trained wreck divers with a torch and line, as silt and the age of the structure are real concerns.
Access is the main limitation: the wreck lies off a remote headland, the nearest ramps are small, and there is no regular operator. Boats usually combine it with Outer Rock nearby. For experienced divers with their own vessel or a technical charter from 1770, it is one of the most rewarding and least crowded historic wrecks in Queensland.
The wreck is more than 75 years old and so is protected as historic shipwreck – nothing may be removed.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Nautilus Wreck (Bustard Head) is recorded as Wreck in Bundaberg & Agnes Water. 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- 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 Nautilus Wreck (Bustard Head) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Nautilus Wreck (Bustard Head) 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
Baitfish, large grouper, cobia, eagle rays, trevally, mackerel and other pelagics, estuary cod, sweetlips, soft corals and sponges
Location
Iron-hulled 1880 steam hopper barge/coastal steamer in about 27 m off Bustard Head, between 1770 and Gladstone; lost in heavy weather while under tow and located in 1999.
Facilities nearby
Departures: Seventeen Seventy boat ramp or Turkey Beach boat ramp
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.audaveharasti.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.