Meet the site
The steamer Karitane, built in 1903, was wrecked on Christmas Day 1921 after striking the cliffs of Deal Island in fog while carrying copper ingots, and was beached in Squally Cove. The Marine Life Network guide rates the site 7 out of 10: the shell is flattened on a north-south line, with the bow on the pebbly beach and the stern about 80 m to the south, and the heavily salvaged wreck still shows machinery, the boiler, prop shafts and steel plate sections. It was famously salvaged by the professional diver 'Johnno' Johnson, who later recovered gold from other wrecks, and unauthorised salvors caused dynamite damage. Schools of fish frequent the wreck, and some steel pieces lie on the foreshore. The guide gives a depth range of 1-70 m, which presumably refers to the surrounding seabed rather than the wreck itself. The Marine Life Network guide's descriptions are the only detailed published account, so expect some changes in the decades since and plan to explore.
The Kent Group is one of the most isolated island groups in Australian waters, protected as the Kent Group National Park on land, with the surrounding waters managed as a marine reserve. It sits in the middle of Bass Strait where warm and cool currents mix, and its granite walls and clear water support rich invertebrate growth rarely seen by divers. The historic Deal Island lighthouse (1848), once the highest in the southern hemisphere, overlooks the anchorages.
With no facilities beyond the caretakers' station and a long passage back to the mainland or Flinders Island, any diving injury is a serious emergency requiring aeromedical evacuation, most likely to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital. Diving here is for experienced, completely self-sufficient expedition 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 Karitane (Squally Cove) is recorded as Wreck in Kent Group. The listed access is boat (multi-day/liveaboard). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
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 Karitane (Squally Cove) 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 Karitane (Squally Cove) 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
Schooling fish, encrusting organisms, wrasse, leatherjackets
Location
Steamer Karitane (1921), beached in Squally Cove, Deal Island, after striking cliffs in fog - a heavily salvaged, flattened wreck running from the pebble beach seaward.
Facilities nearby
None apart from the Deal Island caretakers' station; no fuel, water or supplies for visitors.
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
marinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.