Meet the site
The Toba is a small wreck with a surprising history. Divingwawrecks describes her as a wooden fishing vessel, less than 20 m long, originally a pearling lugger from the Torres Strait and later Broome. Marinelife.org.au adds that she was a small wooden ketch built in the Aru Islands, Indonesia, in 1907, owned by Clark & Co. - a company with more than 200 schooners and luggers based at Thursday Island and Broome for pearling and fishing - and that she ran ashore in 1933.
The remains cover about 10 by 5 m against the sloping reef shelf on the south side of Peak Island, in about 7.6 m. Timber frames, ballast stones and a windlass are visible. The wreck itself is modest, but divingwawrecks notes that the surrounding overhangs and hard corals around Peak Island make it a nice, easy dive, and marinelife.org.au describes the island's weedy limestone reef in 7-15 m with lots of fish life.
The combination of a small heritage wreck and sheltered reef, less than a kilometre from the ramp, makes this a good second dive after the wrecks along the beach, or a first boat dive for newer divers. Mushroom Rock and Mushroom Reef, immediately nearby, extend the options.
Hamelin Bay was a timber port from the 1880s, when a jetty built in 1882 and extended in 1898 served M. C. Davies' milling operations. It was notorious for wrecks in bad weather because it is exposed to the north-west gales of winter storms; the 22 July 1900 storm alone wrecked several ships, and only the old jetty piles remain today. The bay is now a recreation zone in the Ngari Capes Marine Park, and every wreck in it older than 75 years is protected.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Peak Island & Toba Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Margaret River & Augusta. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 Peak Island & Toba 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 Peak Island & Toba 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
Hard corals, overhang invertebrates, buffalo bream, old wife, western king wrasse, herring cale, weed and kelp on limestone
Location
Small wooden ex-pearling vessel lying against the sloping reef on the south side of Peak Island in about 7-8 m, under 1 km from the Hamelin Bay boat ramp, surrounded by weedy limestone reef to 15 m.
Facilities nearby
Hamelin Bay boat ramp and holiday park.
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
divingwawrecks.commarinelife.org.audivingwawrecks.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
