Meet the site
In Little Peppermint Bay, near Woodbridge on the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, lies the hulk of an old river steamer, the Laura. The Marine Life Network guide describes her as badly corroded but still fairly intact, with the bow high and dry and the rest of the hull in 2-4 m over a mud and pebble bottom. It warns that the wreck is weakening rapidly and may be unstable, so divers must not climb on it or enter it. The site is essentially a heritage snorkel: the hull's lines are still visible, and the steel is covered in weed, mussels and small invertebrates, with small fish, crabs and sea stars around it. It suits snorkellers and divers interested in the Channel's history, when river steamers carried fruit, timber and passengers between Hobart and the Channel and Huon settlements. The guide's entry also mentions a dramatic 1855 explosion; this refers to the Katherine Sharer, blown up in Port Esperance, which has its own entry. Visibility is modest and the bottom is silty. Access is on foot at low tide around the headland from Woodbridge, which also has cafes and the Peppermint Bay restaurant. Given its condition, visit soon and treat it gently. Combine a visit with lunch in Woodbridge and a drive further down the Channel Highway to Ninepin Point or Verona Sands, where the Huon's tannin-stained water creates an unusual reef community. The hulk is best photographed on a calm, sunny morning at low tide, when reflections and the exposed bow make a striking image, and a snorkel around the submerged stern gives a sense of how these vessels were built.
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 Laura Hulk (Little Peppermint Bay) is recorded as Wreck in Bruny Island & D'Entrecasteaux Channel. The listed access is shore. 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 Laura Hulk (Little Peppermint Bay) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Snorkel/Any. 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 Laura Hulk (Little Peppermint Bay) 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
Weed, mussels, small invertebrates, small fish, crabs, sea stars
Location
Corroded but fairly intact old river steamer lying in 2-4 m in Little Peppermint Bay near Woodbridge, with its bow high and dry.
Facilities nearby
Woodbridge: parking, cafes and toilets; fills in Kingston or Hobart.
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 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.