Meet the site
Coogee was built in 1887 by J. L. Thompson and Sons of Sunderland as the Lancashire Witch for the Liverpool–Isle of Man run. Huddart Parker bought her in 1888 for the Melbourne–Geelong passenger trade, and for 30 years she was a familiar bay steamer, later running across Bass Strait. On 20 May 1918 she was commissioned as HMAS Coogee, serving as a minesweeper and armed patrol vessel until the Armistice. Worn out and unwanted, she was stripped and scuttled in the Graveyard on 27 February 1928. The wreck lies on a limestone and sand seabed in 28–35 m with the bow pointing north towards the shore. The scuttling charges flattened the midships, so the layout is a recognisable bow, an open engine and boiler space, and a substantial stern. The bow section rests on its side and still carries its original railings, thick with growth and busy with fish. Amidships the two large boilers are the landmark: there is room to swim between them, and beyond lie the engine bed and centre-line hatch coamings. The stern is the highlight and one of the most photographed pieces of steel in Victoria – two decks of structure remain, with the rudder gear and steering quadrant clear, and a little penetration is possible for wreck-trained divers. Yellow zoanthids blanket the stern and railings, and the wreck holds giant Australian cuttlefish in season, several species of catshark, ling, bullseyes, sweep, crayfish under the plates and large sponges and sea fans in the shelter of the hull. At 35 m maximum it sits within Advanced-with-experience limits and is dived weekly in good weather, often as a 22-minute nitrox dive with a short deco. It is the best all-round steamship wreck outside The Heads for divers not yet ready for the 40 m-plus sites, and the pairing of Coogee with J4 or J5 is the standard Graveyard day.
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 Coogee is recorded as Wreck in Port Phillip Heads. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
- 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 Coogee 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 Coogee 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
Yellow zoanthids, giant Australian cuttlefish, draughtboard shark and other catsharks, ling, bullseyes, sweep, butterfly perch, southern rock lobster, sponges and sea fans
Location
Eastern Ships' Graveyard about 4 km offshore between Point Lonsdale and Barwon Heads, close to the J-class submarines.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Queenscliff Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, fills at Dive Victoria/Queenscliff Dive Centre) or Portsea Pier (parking on Point Nepean Road, toilets, cafes).
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.audivernet.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
