Meet the site
The Kelloe is a deep wreck for the very experienced, sitting upright on sand beside a reef edge 1.25 km off Little Bay. She was an iron-hulled collier built by J. Laing of Sunderland in 1866, about 50 m long and 8 m wide, displacing 500 tons and driven by a 70 hp two-cylinder compound engine by G. Clark. Named after a Durham coal town, she worked out of Hamburg before passing through several owners to the Wallarah Coal Company in 1891. At about 1.30 am on 12 May 1902, carrying coal from South Bulli to Sydney under Captain Hector Boyle, she was struck on the starboard side by the wooden steamer SS Dunmore north of Botany Bay. Within 15 minutes the Kelloe sank stern first with her engine still running; all 15 crew were rescued. An inquiry blamed the Dunmore's second officer for a poor lookout. Eric Buchannan found the wreck around 1970 and for years it was known as 'the Cronulla'; John Sumner's team made the first recreational dive on 27 August 1978, and a recovered telegraph gauge engraved 'Kello' confirmed her identity. She lies in 48–51 m, bow north. The boiler stands 3–4 m off the bottom and is the best landmark. The engine was intact and upright until 1996–97 but is now badly damaged, possibly by ships' anchors, with collapsed cylinders and scattered conrods; the condenser has opened. The driveshaft runs aft, breaking before the three-bladed propeller (two blades broken), with rudder remains beyond. Forward are several large winches, the bowsprit and two enormous anchors, one upright with its shaft still able to pivot. The hull is flattened and messy, although a large hole lets divers pass through. Divers have met humpback whales, dolphins with calves, a 2.5 m sunfish and a small mako shark here. Visibility is generally good. Because of the depth and the risk of current building during decompression, it demands twin cylinders or a pony bottle at minimum, and today is best done on trimix.
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 Kelloe wreck 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.
- 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 Kelloe 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 Kelloe 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
Nannygai, bullseyes, yellowtail kingfish, seapike, sunfish (seasonal), dolphins, humpback whales (Jun–Nov), mako and other sharks, moray eels
Location
Iron collier sunk in a collision in 1902, lying upright, bow north, in 48–51 m on sand and reef edge about 1.25 km off Little Bay.
Facilities nearby
Departure only: Botany Bay ramps (parking, toilets); trimix/nitrox at Abyss (Ramsgate).
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.
