Meet the site
The Raven is the most elusive of the charted Rottnest wrecks, and a dive for wreck hunters rather than sightseers. She was a British-built, three-masted wooden barque of about 343 tons. On 11 March 1891 she left Fremantle for Bunbury in ballast and, according to the WA Museum trail, sailed under a drunken skipper who put her onto the reefs of the South Passage near Dyer Island. No lives were lost, but the ship broke up.
What survives is modest. The WA Museum describes the wreckage as partly buried in sand and weed in about 6 m and difficult to distinguish from the surrounding reef, while divingwawrecks notes only hull sheathing, fastenings and ballast stones spread over a flat reef floor and hidden by kelp. A plinth marks the site. Sources give tonnage as 343-344 tons and depth as around 6 m.
The reef itself is typical of the South Passage: flat limestone with kelp and weed, bream, wrasse and old wives, and occasional larger fish moving through from the open sea. If you are anchored near Dyer Island for the Lady Elizabeth or Crystal Palace, the Raven offers a short, shallow second dive with a treasure-hunt element; on its own it is rarely worth the trip. Protected historic shipwreck - look for, but do not move, anything you find. Bring a torch and a slate with the plinth position: in kelp it is easy to swim straight past the ballast mound, and a methodical search pattern from the plinth works far better than wandering. The wreck is a good exercise in underwater search technique for club divers.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Raven Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Rottnest 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.
- 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 Raven 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 Raven 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
Kelp, western king wrasse, buffalo bream, old wife, herring cale, leatherjackets, sea urchins
Location
Scattered remains of a wooden barque on flat, kelp-covered reef south-east of Dyer Island in the South Passage, marked by a WA Museum plinth.
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
museum.wa.gov.audivingwawrecks.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.