Meet the site
The SS Barwon was a three-masted, schooner-rigged iron screw steamer of 406 tons, built by R Little and Co at Greenock in 1863 and 172 feet long, employed on the coastal run between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. On 3 April 1871, carrying flour and passengers, she was feeling her way along the coast in thick fog when she struck Wadmores Rock about 200 m off the eastern side of Cape Bridgewater. Her master tried to run her onto the beach in Bridgewater Bay but she sank in deeper water short of it; everyone aboard got ashore. The Historic Shipwreck Trail notes that her remains were visible from the cliffs for years, and the site is one of the stops on the Discovery Coast section of the trail. She was one of a cluster of fog and gale losses on this stretch – the Marie in 1851 and the Jane in 1863 were wrecked at the cape before her – that made Cape Bridgewater as feared as Cape Nelson.
The wreck lies in about 5 m near Fisherman Cove on the sheltered eastern side of the cape, and after 150 years is a scatter of iron – boiler, frames, plating and fittings – on and around the reef, overgrown with kelp and sheltering the crayfish, abalone and reef fish of the bay. Horseshoe Reef, 160 m to the south, is a shallow reef in 2–8 m that the Scuba Doctor describes as having lots of marine life and being suitable for snorkelling, facing east near the cove in the quietest water on the cape. Together they make an easy, shallow boat dive or snorkel five minutes from the Bridgewater beach ramp, suitable for Open Water divers and families in the boat, and the natural warm-up or second dive on a day at the seal colony 1.5 km further south. Fur seals from the colony visit, and the cold, rich Bonney Upwelling water gives the kelp and sponges of the reef their vigour. The Barwon is a protected historic shipwreck; nothing may be disturbed.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
SS Barwon & Horseshoe Reef, Cape Bridgewater is recorded as Wreck in Portland & the West. 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.
- 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 SS Barwon & Horseshoe Reef, Cape Bridgewater 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 SS Barwon & Horseshoe Reef, Cape Bridgewater 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
Southern rock lobster, black-lip abalone, blue-throat wrasse, sea sweep, magpie perch, leatherjackets, rays, kelp, sponges and encrusting growth on the iron, Australian fur seals (visiting)
Location
Remains of an 1871 iron steamer that struck Wadmores Rock in fog, lying in about 5 m near Fisherman Cove on the eastern side of Cape Bridgewater, with the shallow Horseshoe Reef 160 m to the south in 2–8 m.
Facilities nearby
Cape Bridgewater beach ramp, cafe and toilets at the township; Portland SCUBA (21 km) for air.
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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.