Meet the site
The MacIntyre had an unusual career. Built in 1877 as a composite vessel, she started life as a river barge and was later converted into a schooner-rigged screw steamer of about 33 m and 127 tons for the coastal trade. At about midnight on 1 April 1927 she struck a rock off the south-south-east of Wardang Island and sank about 500 m offshore. The wreck lies in 4-10 m, close to the larger SS Australian. The Dive Shack notes that fish life is sparse compared with the Australian, but the remains are easy to explore: composite framing, iron fittings, machinery and plating spread across the sand and low reef, gradually being covered by weed and encrusting organisms. Leatherjackets, magpie perch, old wives and sweep use the structure, and blue swimmer crabs and cuttlefish are seen on the sand. The MacIntyre is interesting chiefly as an example of the adaptable small vessels that served South Australia's coastal communities, and as part of the story of Wardang Island's treacherous southern shore, where the Australian and Monarch were also lost. Its proximity to the Australian makes it an easy add-on: most divers visit both on one tank or back-to-back. It suits beginners and snorkellers in the shallower sections, and is best on calm, easterly days. The DEW trail booklet includes a site plan that helps divers distinguish the MacIntyre's composite framing from the iron of the Australian nearby, and working out which piece belongs to which ship is part of the fun. Take care with buoyancy over the fragile timber remnants, which are slowly being eroded by sand movement.
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 MacIntyre Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Yorke Peninsula. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- 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 MacIntyre 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 MacIntyre 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
Leatherjackets, magpie perch, old wives, sweep, blue swimmer crabs, cuttlefish, weed and encrusting growth
Location
Small composite steamer (a converted river barge) that struck a rock in 1927, lying in 4-10 m about 500 m off the south-south-east of Wardang Island, close to the SS Australian.
Facilities nearby
Port Victoria ramp, kiosk with air fills.
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
environment.sa.gov.ausdfsa.netthediveshack.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.