Meet the site
The Duckenfield is the only genuine nineteenth-century shipwreck on the Northern Beaches at recreational depth, and its story is one of poor seamanship and remarkable salvage. Built in London by J. and W. Dudgeon in 1875, she was a 49 m iron screw steamer of 368 tons with a two-cylinder vertical engine, owned by J. and A. Brown and employed in the Newcastle coal trade. On 24 May 1889, bound for Sydney with coal, coke and 50 tons of copper ingots, Captain Thomas Hunter held too close to the coast in heavy rain and ran her onto Long Reef. The crew got ashore; the Marine Board found the loss was caused by Hunter's default and suspended his certificate for six months. Within weeks salvors Arthur Briggs and William May recovered 32 tons of copper for the underwriters using explosives, which is why the wreck is so thoroughly flattened. It was then forgotten until Alan and Neil McLennan relocated it in 1987. The remains lie roughly north–south with the bow to the north on a rock-and-sand bottom at 21–23 m off the seaward edge of Long Reef Point. The most conspicuous piece is the twin-cylinder engine standing on its bedplate, with the driveshaft running aft to a rudder and a single surviving propeller blade. Nearby are the main boiler, a donkey boiler, a large winch, two salvage anchors dropped by the 1889 divers, and scattered copper ingots still fused into the bottom. Forward, the lower hull and ribs remain in the sand leading to the bow section, ship's anchors, chain and a davit. Everything can be seen in one 35-minute dive. Fish life is typical of Long Reef: wobbegongs under the plates, blue groper, bullseyes in the boiler, morwong and the occasional cuttlefish. A permit was once required to dive the site but was dropped around 2004; it remains a protected historic shipwreck and nothing may be taken. The Duckenfield suits Advanced divers who enjoy reading a broken wreck and want history close to the city, and it pairs naturally with the Long Reef Wall.
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 Duckenfield wreck is recorded as Wreck in Sydney Northern Beaches. 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.
- 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.
- 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 Duckenfield 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 Duckenfield 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
Wobbegongs, blue groper, bullseyes, red morwong, cuttlefish, Port Jackson sharks in winter, leatherjackets, sponges on the boilers
Location
Collier that ran onto Long Reef in heavy rain on 24 May 1889 carrying coal and 50 tons of copper ingots; broken remains lie on the reef edge off Long Reef Point in about 23 m.
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.infoRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.