Meet the site
The SS Corangamite was a steel screw steamer built at Wallsend-on-Tyne in 1885 for the intercolonial passenger and cargo trade – about 91 m (300 ft) long and 2,420 gross tons, a large and modern ship for her day. On 6 December 1886, bound from Melbourne to Sydney with about 100 passengers and 40 crew under Captain Le Neveu, she ran aground at 8 am in dense fog on a headland in the Wreck Bay area.
Calm seas allowed an orderly evacuation, and most passengers were taken by the ship's boats to Ulladulla. Salvors worked for weeks with two tugs, the Eagle and the Stormcock, and several pumps, but on 22 December heavy seas broke her up and she became a total loss. The South Coast Register places the wreck on the south-west side of St George Head, and the Lady Denman Museum notes that the site is locally known as 'Corangamite'.
Today little remains. The wreck lies in about 15 m, and ballast blocks are described as the only visible evidence of the ship, along with scattered remains mentioned by other sources. It is therefore a historical site for divers interested in the maritime past of Wreck Bay – a stretch of coast whose very name records how many ships came to grief here – rather than a structural wreck dive. The surrounding reef is typical of the exposed Booderee coast. Because it is rarely dived and not well documented, marks and details should be confirmed locally. It is a protected historic shipwreck; nothing may be removed.
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 Corangamite is recorded as Wreck in Shoalhaven Coast. 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.
- 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 Corangamite 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 Corangamite 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
Typical temperate reef fish – blue groper, sweep, leatherjackets, wrasse – and encrusting growth on ballast (not documented in detail)
Location
Scattered remains, chiefly ballast blocks, of a 91 m steel steamer wrecked in fog in 1886 on the south-west side of St Georges Head near Wreck Bay, in about 15 m.
Facilities nearby
Murrays Beach or Sussex Inlet ramps.
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
jervisbaymaritimemuseum.blogspot.comsouthcoastregister.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.