Meet the site
Rottnest has more than a dozen recorded shipwrecks, and the WA Museum and Rottnest Island Authority have turned them into a heritage trail that works on land, on the surface and underwater. Plaques were placed both beside the wrecks and on shore, and underwater plinths mark the Transit, Gem, Raven and others. The Museum's trail guide covers the Transit (1842), Gem (1876), Lady Elizabeth (1878), Macedon (1883), Mira Flores (1886), Janet (1887), Denton Holme (1890), Raven (1891), City of York (1899), Shark (1939) and Uribes (1942); Wikipedia's list adds the Ulidia (1893, on Stragglers Reef), the yacht Anitra II (1979, Cape Vlamingh) and the Kiryo Maru I (1984).
The land trail starts at the museum and leads to an overlook with the areas where the Macedon, Denton Holme, Janet, Transit and Gem were lost, and anchors from the Mira Flores and City of York, before continuing to Bathurst Point Lighthouse and the Leeman monument. For swimmers, the Museum recommends only two wrecks as snorkel dives: the sand-filled Uribes at the Natural Jetty and the Shark barge at Henrietta Rocks, both metres from shore and only in calm seas. The Thomson Bay wrecks are visited by glass-bottomed and semi-submersible tour boats and are the easiest scuba wrecks.
The trail is a good framework for a Rottnest holiday: it links the island's history of reefs, lighthouses and pilots with sites for every level from non-swimmer to Advanced diver. All the wrecks are protected under Commonwealth and State maritime archaeology legislation. Maps are available from the Visitor Centre.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Rottnest Wreck Trail is recorded as Wreck in Rottnest Island. The listed access is shore or 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Rottnest Wreck Trail suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Rottnest Wreck Trail 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
Varies by site: buffalo bream, sweep, western king wrasse, bullseyes, western rock lobster, stingarees
Location
WA Museum and Rottnest Island Authority heritage trail linking 13 historic wrecks around Rottnest by land plaques and underwater plinths, with Uribes and Shark as the recommended snorkel sites.
Facilities nearby
Visitor Centre (maps), museum, Thomson Bay settlement shops, toilets and showers, bike and snorkel hire, Island Explorer bus.
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.aurottnestisland.comen.wikipedia.orgdivingwawrecks.comdivingwawrecks.comRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.