Meet the site
Kakariki was a steel interstate trader of 1,887 dwt built by Cochrane and Sons at Selby, Yorkshire, in 1926, 58 m (190 ft) long, one of a class of small steamers that carried timber, ore and general cargo around the Tasmanian and Victorian coasts. On 29 January 1937 she was inbound from Strahan on Tasmania's west coast with timber and ore when, in the fairway off Williamstown, she collided with the steamer Caradale. The Caradale struck her on the starboard side between the forecastle and the mess room and tore a hole 28 feet wide; the Kakariki sank in three minutes and five of her crew died. The wreck lay in the main channel until 1945, when what was left after salvage was moved in pieces and dumped in deeper water off Point Gellibrand. What survives is a scatter rather than a ship. Parts of the mast, the bridge structure and the bow lie on a muddy bottom in 8–10 m in two debris fields about 80 m apart, festooned with mussels and sponges and home to the fish of the northern bay – snapper in season, flathead on the mud, leatherjackets and small wrasse in the steel. Visibility is usually one to five metres and a reel from the anchor is the only sensible way to explore. It is dived rarely, by Williamstown and inner-Melbourne divers with their own boats, and is not on any charter schedule. The Kakariki matters more for what she represents than for what she offers underwater: she is the port of Melbourne's worst peacetime collision, a grave for five seamen and the reason a section of channel was cleared in 1945. Divers who want a quick, unusual historic wreck fifteen minutes from the West Gate Bridge will find her worth one visit on a clear flood tide; anyone after structure and visibility should go to the Uralba or the Heads.
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 Kakariki is recorded as Wreck in Melbourne & Port Phillip Bay. 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.
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 Kakariki 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 Kakariki 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
Snapper, flathead, leatherjackets, wrasse, mussels, sponges, sea stars, stingarees
Location
Salvaged remains dumped in 1945 in about 10 m of water off Williamstown near the Gellibrand Pile Light, at the top of Port Phillip; a second debris field lies 80 m to the east.
Facilities nearby
Williamstown and Altona public boat ramps (parking, toilets); fills at inner-west dive shops.
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.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
