Meet the site
Milora is the biggest ship in the Graveyard: a 3,347-ton, 101 m (331 ft) steel screw steamer built at Williamstown Naval Dockyard in 1920 as the Emita, one of the Commonwealth Government Line's locally built cargo ships, renamed Milora in 1926 when she went into the coal trade. On 21 September 1934 she grounded on Rondella Reef with a broken rudder; the damage was not worth repairing and, stripped of anything of value, she was towed out and scuttled on Friday 8 March 1935. She sits on sand in 43 m, oriented north–south with the bow to the south, and stands 10–12 m high – large sections of intact hull, listing to port, are interspersed with collapsed plating. The bow is intact, with a hatch coaming on deck and a winch on the starboard side; amidships a large piece of cabin structure or wheelhouse still stands; and at the stern the rudder, stern gland and propeller shaft survive together with hull plating, girders and two iron companionway ladders. There is penetration inside the stern for those trained and equipped. The scale is unlike anything else in Victoria short of the Canberra, and a 20-minute bottom time only allows one lap. The trade-off is water quality. The wreck lies in the plume of the Barwon River, and the Scuba Doctor notes there is little marine growth on the steel for that reason; visibility is often 5–10 m and silty rather than the 20 m sometimes found on the eastern subs. Fish life is still good – schooling bullseyes, ling, boarfish and crayfish in the plating. Milora is a decompression dive by any measure, but with the bow top at about 32 m it is also the friendliest of the western Graveyard wrecks and the usual first western wreck for Melbourne technical divers. Dive it after a dry spell for the best chance of clear water.
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 Milora is recorded as Wreck in Port Phillip Heads. 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.
- 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 Milora 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 Milora 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
Bullseyes, ling, boarfish, sweep, southern rock lobster, leatherjackets; sparse encrusting growth because of Barwon River silt
Location
Western end of the Ships' Graveyard about 8 km south of Barwon Heads, the westernmost and largest wreck in the field.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Queenscliff Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, fills at Dive Victoria/Queenscliff Dive Centre) or Portsea Pier (parking on Point Nepean Road, toilets, cafes).
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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.audivernet.comtorquayhistory.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
