Meet the site
The Clan Ranald is one of South Australia's great wreck dives and a site of real historical weight. Built in 1900 at Sunderland by William Doxford & Sons, she was a turret-deck steamer, an unusual experimental hull form with a narrow raised 'turret' along the centreline designed to reduce Suez Canal tolls, which were charged on deck width. She was 108 m long with a 13.9 m beam and 3,596 gross tons. In January 1909 she loaded 39,862 bags of wheat and 28,451 bags of flour at Port Adelaide, with extra coal stowed on deck. On 31 January, soon after leaving, a list to starboard steadily worsened and near Troubridge Point it suddenly increased to about 45 degrees. That night she capsized roughly 700 m from shore. Forty of her 64 crew died, many of them Indian lascars, and a number are buried in the Edithburgh cemetery. The subsequent inquiry blamed overloading and poor stability, and the disaster contributed to changes in loading regulations. The wreck was rediscovered by volunteers in 1962, and in 1983 the Troubridge Hill Aquatic Reserve was declared around it. An anchor was mounted on the clifftop in 1975 as a memorial. The ship lies upside down on sand in about 18-21 m, bow pointing east-south-east, her hull slowly collapsing onto the boilers. Divers swim along the upturned keel and around the sides, where gaps under the gunwales and collapsed plating reveal machinery and structure. The Dive Shack calls it one of the best wreck dives in South Australia. After a century on the seabed it is a dense reef in its own right: boarfish, snapper, bullseyes, old wives and leatherjackets school around it, blue groper patrol, and large crayfish – protected in the reserve – shelter under the hull plates. Depth, current and open-water location make it a dive for experienced, advanced-certified divers. It is also a war-grave-like site for many families and a protected historic shipwreck, so 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 Clan Ranald Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Yorke Peninsula. 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.
- 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.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- 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 Clan Ranald Wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Clan Ranald 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
Boarfish, snapper, bullseyes, old wives, leatherjackets, western blue groper, magpie perch, southern rock lobster (protected), sponges and gorgonians
Location
Steel turret-deck steamer lying upside down on sand in about 18-21 m, some 700 m off the cliffs of Troubridge Point and about 14 km south-west of Edithburgh; the only turret ship lost in Australian waters.
Facilities nearby
Boat ramp, toilets and air fills at Edithburgh; anchor memorial on Troubridge Hill.
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
environment.sa.gov.auen.wikipedia.orgmarinelife.org.authediveshack.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.