Meet the site
The Betsey Island graveyard, west of Little Betsey Island at the mouth of the Derwent, is Hobart's ships' graveyard: from the 1930s to the 1980s obsolete vessels, barges and sections of the old floating bridge were towed here and scuttled in about 20-34 m. The Marine Life Network guide calls it a huge concentration of wreck dives very close to Hobart, with a pebble-and-mud bottom that stirs up easily, poor visibility after bad weather or decaying Storm Bay swell, and massive yellow and white jewel anemones and, at times, hordes of school fish on the wrecks. The Macquarie is the best-preserved of the graveyard wrecks. Built in Scotland in 1908 for the Strahan Marine Board, she was designed to dredge the notorious sandbar at Hell's Gates, the narrow entrance to Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's west coast. After decades of service she was blown ashore in 1975 and was eventually scuttled at Betsey Island in 1984. The guide lists her at 225 tons and 123 ft (37.5 m). Her hull is intact, sitting on the bottom in about 20 m with the bow pointing north-west, and it is heavily coated in jewel anemones in yellow and white that glow under a torch. Schools of fish gather over the structure, and leatherjackets, wrasse and crabs forage on the growth. Barges lie near her bow and the steam tug Boyer is close by, so a single dive can take in several structures if visibility allows. Because she is intact, the Macquarie is the easiest graveyard wreck to recognise and navigate, making her a good first wreck in the graveyard. Penetration is not advisable in the low visibility and silt. Visibility is rarely good – expect 3-8 m at best – so a torch is essential. The wreck is a direct link to one of Tasmania's great maritime stories: the struggle to keep Hell's Gates open to shipping for the mining port of Strahan.
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 Macquarie (Betsey Island) is recorded as Wreck in Hobart & Derwent. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
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 Macquarie (Betsey Island) suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Macquarie (Betsey Island) 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
Jewel anemones (yellow and white), schooling fish, leatherjackets, wrasse, crabs, sea squirts
Location
Intact hull of the 1908 Strahan dredge Macquarie, scuttled in 1984 in about 20 m in the Betsey Island graveyard, bow pointing north-west.
Facilities nearby
South Arm and Lauderdale boat ramps; fills in 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 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.