Meet the site
The SS Galava was one of the 'sixty-milers', the steel colliers that shuttled coal between the Hunter and Lake Macquarie ports and Sydney. Built in 1906 by R. Williamson and Sons at Workington, England, she was 141.4 ft (43 m) long with a single boiler and a two-cylinder compound engine, owned by Jones Brothers Coal Company of Sydney. In the early hours of 9 February 1927, heading south from Catherine Hill Bay with 420 tons of coal, water suddenly began pouring through hull plates in the bow. She sank so fast that no lifeboats or distress rockets could be launched; seven men died, three were missing, and five survived. Today she lies in about 51 m, 5.8 km off The Skillion, facing roughly north-east - odd, as McFadyen notes, since she was heading south. When first dived in late 1968 or early 1969 she was reasonably intact, but most of the hull has now rusted away to leave ribs, and the two holds read as one. At the stern are the windlass and the propeller, missing two blades. The engine lies on its side, possibly after explosives were used on the wreck, with the Scotch boiler behind it and a winch nearby. The bow is the most intact part, standing about a metre off the sand with a couple of winches and a standing bowsprit. The fish life is the reason many divers make the effort. McFadyen compares it to the SS Tuggerah off Sydney: wobbegongs on the wreck, nannygai, leatherjackets and seapike, and large schools of yellowtail, teraglin and nannygai overhead; the Marine Life Network adds jewfish. At 51 m this is a serious decompression dive. McFadyen's example of a 15-minute bottom time on air requires about 16 minutes of stops and a total run time near 40 minutes, and he stresses at minimum a pony bottle. It is a dive for trained technical divers.
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 Galava wreck is recorded as Wreck in Central 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.
- 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.
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 Galava wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). 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 Galava 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 (large schools), teraglin, nannygai, seapike, leatherjackets, wobbegong sharks, jewfish (mulloway), red snapper
Location
A 1906 steel collier ('sixty-miler') lost in 1927, lying in about 51 m roughly 5.8 km off The Skillion, Terrigal.
Facilities nearby
Departs Terrigal Haven: paid parking, toilets, kiosk and dive shop.
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.infoterrigalunderwatergroup.commarinelife.org.aucoastmagazine.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.