Meet the site
The Pareora was a steel-hulled screw steamer built in 1896 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. On 18 September 1919, carrying 672 tonnes of zinc concentrate from Port Pirie, she was caught in heavy seas and struck rocks on the northern side of Althorpe Island. Eleven of her 18 crew drowned, including the captain – one of the worst losses of life on this coast. The Department for Environment and Water records the wreck lying in a gully between reefs on the northern side of the island. More than a century of swell has broken her up, but substantial pieces remain: the boiler, engine, an anchor and windlass and sections of plating are wedged into the gully, overgrown with kelp, sponges and encrusting life. Fish use the wreckage as shelter – blue groper, sweep, old wives, magpie perch and bullseyes – and seals from the island colonies often investigate divers. The Pareora is one of two located wrecks at Althorpe on the Investigator Strait Shipwreck Trail, the other being the fishing vessel Mylor Star on the south-west corner. Several other vessels lost around the island – the Young St George, Welling, Rapid and Altair – have not been found, and divers who come across unidentified wreckage are asked to report it to Heritage SA. Because of the open-water crossing, exposure and strong currents, this is an expedition-style dive for experienced divers with a capable boat. It is best combined with wall and seal dives around Althorpe on the same trip, making the long crossing from Marion Bay worthwhile. Take photographs only and leave all fittings where they lie.
What you might see
Western blue groper, sweep, old wives, magpie perch, bullseyes, New Zealand fur seals, Australian sea lions, kelp, sponges
Location
Remains of the steel steamer Pareora, wrecked in 1919 with the loss of 11 lives, lying in a gully between reefs on the northern side of Althorpe Island.
Facilities nearby
None; Marion Bay ramp and services.
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.authediveshack.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.