Meet the site
The Macedon is the most intact of the old iron wrecks at Rottnest and the core of the popular 'Three Wrecks' dive on Transit Reef. She was a British-built iron screw steamer, 63 m long, recorded as 532 tons by divingwawrecks and 562 tons by the WA Museum trail guide. On 21 March 1883 she left Fremantle for the Kimberley carrying about 50 passengers, some 40 horses, mail, specie and general cargo, including a survey party whose members included future Premier Walter James. With dignitaries aboard, the master took her close along the Rottnest shore for the view and put her onto West Transit Reef, holing the hull. Nobody died, but the ship could not be saved and rough weather broke her up in place.
Today the hull sits upright on the reef in 3-7 m, running for nearly 50 m, with ribs and gunwales still standing and the boiler of her 100-horsepower engine clearly recognisable. Coal and fragments of bottles lie inside the hull. The surrounding limestone reef has small caves and overhangs, and the Denton Holme lies only a few tens of metres away, so most divers treat the two as one dive, with the scattered Janet about 80 m to the east.
Because it is shallow, sheltered and close to the settlement, the Macedon is the first wreck most Perth divers ever see, and it is one of the best introductions to historic wreck diving in the state: easy to navigate, with plenty of structure and good fish life. Buffalo bream and sweep school over the hull, western rock lobster hide under plates, and bullseyes gather in the shadows. The site is inside the Kingston Sanctuary Zone and is a protected historic shipwreck, so nothing may be touched or taken. It suits Open Water divers, snorkellers on flat days (parts of the hull can be seen from the surface) and photographers wanting wide-angle wreck shots in good light.
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 Macedon Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Rottnest Island. The listed access is shore or 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.
- 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.
- 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 Macedon Wreck 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 Macedon 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
Buffalo bream, sweep, western rock lobster, bullseyes, western king wrasse, breaksea cod, octopus, western blue groper (occasional), sponges and kelp on the reef
Location
Iron steamer lying upright on West Transit Reef at the northern entrance to Thomson Bay, about 80 m from the Janet and a few tens of metres from the Denton Holme.
Facilities nearby
Public moorings at Transit Reef. Thomson Bay settlement has toilets, showers, cafes, general store and snorkel hire (Pedal & Flipper); no dive air on the island - bring full cylinders from Perth.
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
divingwawrecks.commuseum.wa.gov.aumarinelife.org.aurottnestisland.combucketlistdiver.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.