Meet the site
The Hilda is a shallow, broken-up wreck that most Sydney divers visit once every couple of years. She was a 38 m (125 ft), 222-ton steam collier built in 1878–79 by Cuncliffe and Dunlop of Port Glasgow, with two masts carrying fore-and-aft sails to supplement her engine, working the short coastal run from the Newcastle and Illawarra coalfields into Sydney. Her first owner was Alexander Stuart, later Premier of NSW (1883–85); she passed to H. Robinson in 1886 and later to E. Vickery and Sons. On the night of 19–20 July 1893 she left Port Kembla with coal for the French steamer Armand Behic. Off Cronulla at about 1 am Captain Charles Phillipson left the bridge in the charge of the helmsman, and shortly afterwards the ship crashed onto the rocks at Cape Baily. She refloated under reverse engines, but the engineer reported that she would sink within minutes, and she went down just offshore; the Marine Board suspended the captain's certificate for three months for negligence. The wreck lies less than 200 m off Cape Baily Lighthouse on rocky bottom in 21–27 m, running south-west to north-east. In 1958 a diver dynamited it, blowing off one and a half propeller blades, and storms in 1997 and 2001 did more damage, but two areas still hold a rough ship-like shape. The engine sits on flat rock at 21–23 m tilted to starboard, with a large winch 10 m to the north. The propeller and rudder, boiler casings and tubes, anchors and chain, capstans, davits and hull plates lie scattered around, and the propeller and engine make good photographic backdrops. An anchor raised in the early 1970s went to the Gooyong Sea Scouts hall, and the ship's whistle was found in 2001 and restored to working order. The wreckage is well colonised by sponges and kelp with typical Kurnell fish – mado, yellowtail, silver sweep, morwong and blue gropers. At this depth it is accessible to most Advanced divers, giving 25 minutes or more without decompression, and suits wreck enthusiasts looking for an easy historical dive.
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 Hilda wreck (Cape Baily) is recorded as Wreck in Sydney South & Botany Bay. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 Hilda wreck (Cape Baily) 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 Hilda wreck (Cape Baily) 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
Mado, silver sweep, yellowtail, red morwong, eastern blue groper, sponges, kelp, wobbegong, Port Jackson shark (winter)
Location
Broken-up 1879 collier lying on rocky bottom in 21–27 m less than 200 m off Cape Baily Lighthouse on the Kurnell Peninsula, oriented south-west to north-east.
Facilities nearby
Departure only: Port Hacking ramps (Gunnamatta Bay, Lilli Pilli) or Bonna Point (Kurnell); air at Pro Dive Cronulla.
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.
