Meet the site
The SS Bonnie Dundee is a small, fish-covered wreck off Swansea with a tragic story. Launched by Gourlay Brothers at Dundee, Scotland, in March 1877, she was a 39 m, 121-ton steamer powered by a 40 hp twin-cylinder compound engine, with two masts. At about 8 pm on 10 March 1879, off Caves Beach, she was struck amidships on the starboard side by the larger steamer Barrabool, which holed her below the waterline. She sank in about four minutes; COAST Magazine records that all the women aboard drowned. She now lies in about 35 m, 5.1 km off Caves Beach and 4.4 km from the Swansea Channel entrance, in two sections 25-30 m apart. The larger stern section is the main dive. Michael McFadyen describes the boiler mostly clear of the sand, with a large steam dome and a small donkey boiler in front; behind it stands the compound engine, and at the stern the steering gear, rudder and propeller are visible, with much of the hull intact along this section. Between the boiler and the bow the hull has largely gone, leaving a small piece of plating to starboard and three or four ribs rising high above the sand to port. The bow section is about 5 m of ship tipped roughly 45 degrees to starboard. Grey Nurse Charters calls the wreck a fish magnet, and McFadyen describes huge schools of yellowtail, nannygai and seapike hanging over it, with silver sweep, black reef leatherjackets, wobbegongs in the sand and large moray eels in the boiler and engine. At 32-36 m it suits Deep-certified divers with experience; nitrox extends the short no-deco time. It is the classic wreck dive of the Swansea area.
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 Bonnie Dundee wreck is recorded as Wreck in Newcastle & Lake Macquarie. 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 Bonnie Dundee wreck 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 Bonnie Dundee 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
Yellowtail, nannygai, seapike (large schools), silver sweep, black reef leatherjackets, bullseyes, ladder-finned pomfrets, wobbegong sharks, large moray eels
Location
A small 1877 steamer sunk in a collision in 1879, lying in two sections in about 35 m some 5 km off Caves Beach and 4.4 km from the Swansea Channel entrance.
Facilities nearby
Departs Swansea (Black Neds Bay ramp): parking, toilets; air fills in Swansea.
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.infomichaelmcfadyenscuba.infogreynurse.com.aucoastmagazine.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.