Meet the site
The Undola is one of the classic deep wrecks of southern Sydney: a small, complete collier sitting upright on the sand 2.5 km off Garie Beach with fish life that rivals any wreck on the coast. She was built by J. Fullerton and Co. of Paisley, Scotland, launched on 13 October 1909 for Coal Cliff Collieries and delivered to Sydney in January 1910 after a 74-day voyage. At 41 m long and 8 m wide, with a 580 hp triple-expansion engine and two holds for about 420 tons of coal, she ran the South Coast coal trade from Coal Cliff, Bulli, Bellambi, Wollongong and Port Kembla into Sydney and was never a profitable ship. On 20 December 1918 she left Bellambi under Captain Arthur McDonald, fully loaded, just as a violent southerly buster swept up the coast with 44 mph winds and a temperature drop of more than 30°F in under two hours. She never reached the Heads. Wreckage washed up at Cronulla and a lifebuoy confirmed the loss of all 11 crew; the likely cause is that she took water or her cargo shifted and she turned turtle, although wartime rumours of a German mine persisted. Today the Undola lies upright, bow to the north-east, in 43–45 m. She is lower and smaller than wrecks such as the Tuggerah or Kelloe, but largely intact and easy to understand. The boiler stands up prominently amidships with the triple-expansion engine behind it; aft are the stern winch, the rudder post with its steering arm fallen to the sand, and the stern. Forward, hatches and hull sections lead to the bow winch. A famous porcelain toilet stamped 'Shanks & Co. Ltd, Patentees, Victorian Pottery, Barrhead' is a favourite photo subject. The wreck is a fish magnet: clouds of bullseyes and nannygai inside the hull, yellowtail kingfish and seapike overhead, old man snapper, conger and moray eels in the plates, and occasional sunfish and seals. It is only for experienced deep divers comfortable at 45 m with good gas planning, ideally on nitrox-optimised or trimix deco gases, and suits those working through the southern Sydney deep-wreck circuit.
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 Undola wreck is recorded as Wreck in Sydney South & Botany Bay. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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 Undola wreck 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 Undola 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
Nannygai (redfish), bullseyes, yellowtail kingfish, seapike, yellowtail scad, silver sweep, old man snapper, conger eels, moray eels, sunfish (seasonal), fur seals, sponges and sea whips on the hull
Location
Upright steel collier lying 2.5 km off Garie Beach in Royal National Park in 43–45 m of water on sand, bow to the north-east.
Facilities nearby
Departure only: Port Hacking ramps (Tonkin Park/Gunnamatta Bay, Lilli Pilli) with parking and toilets; air/nitrox/trimix at Pro Dive Cronulla and Abyss (Ramsgate).
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
michaelmcfadyenscuba.infomichaelmcfadyenscuba.infoRecord updated 27 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
