Meet the site
The SS Bombo is the best-known wreck of the Illawarra and one of the more poignant. Built in 1929 by H. Robb at Leith in Scotland, the 46 m, 540-ton steel collier spent the 1930s carrying crushed blue metal from the Kiama quarries to Sydney. From 1941 to 1946 she served as the auxiliary minesweeper HMAS Bombo before returning to the stone trade. At about 10 pm on 22 February 1949, loaded with some 640 tons of blue metal, she was caught by a southerly storm about 4 km from Port Kembla; the cargo shifted, she rolled over and sank within minutes. Twelve of her fourteen crew, including Captain Arthur Bell and Chief Engineer Percy Carroll, were lost.
The wreck was located in 1978 by Don Morrison and Bruce Hammond and was then remarkably intact apart from a break in the hull. She lies upside down in 32 m, roughly north–south, on a sand bottom. Storms, especially a major one in 1996, have changed her dramatically: the hull has split open and the stern has broken away and now sits upright on the seaward side, carrying the propeller with one blade snapped off. The collapse has exposed the inverted engine – pistons, conrods and driveshaft are easy to see – and the boiler can be viewed from both sides of the hull. Along the sides lie the hopper, a bollard, pieces of hatch cover and the rudder. The bow still shows scarring from the sinking.
Penetration, once possible through several openings, is now limited and unwise because of the unstable structure. The wreck attracts schools of yellowtail and bullseyes, with nannygai, wobbegongs, red morwong and moray eels around the debris. The combination of depth, variable visibility and commercial shipping means this is a dive for experienced divers who can manage a short bottom time and a clean ascent in open water. It is also a war grave in spirit if not in law – treat it with respect.
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 Bombo is recorded as Wreck in Wollongong & Kiama. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 SS Bombo suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 Bombo 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
Yellowtail, bullseyes, nannygai, red morwong, wobbegong sharks, moray eels, stripey, sergeant baker, nudibranchs, sponges
Location
Inverted steel collier lying in 32 m about 4 km from the Port Kembla harbour entrance and roughly 2.5 km off Wollongong's southern beaches, right beside the shipping approach.
Facilities nearby
Port Kembla Outer Harbour boat ramp: large trailer park, toilets. Air fills at United Divers (Fairy Meadow) and Shellharbour Scuba.
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
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infogooddive.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
