Meet the site
The Willyama was one of the finest colliers on the Australian coast in her day. Built in 1897 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, she was a steel, schooner-rigged screw steamer of 2,705 tons and about 99 m (325 ft) long. On 13 April 1907, running from Newcastle NSW towards Port Pirie, she struck the limestone reef off Rhino Head in Marion Bay after her master mistook his position – the Marine Life Society records that he believed he was off Kangaroo Island rather than Yorke Peninsula. She could not be refloated and broke up where she lay. Today the wreck is fairly broken up and scattered over the reef in 1-12 m, but the major pieces are impressive. The sternpost and steering quadrant still stand at or just above the surface at low water, and the SDFSA notes one of her masts once protruded a couple of metres out of the water. The boilers, engine, sections of hull plating and a long propeller-shaft inspection tunnel running forward from the stern give plenty to explore, and the steel has become a reef dense with fish: sweep, old wives, magpie perch, zebrafish, leatherjackets and schools of trevally, with blue groper and crayfish in the gutters. The shallowness and moderate depth make it technically easy, but currents around Rhino Head and the swim from shore make it more demanding than it looks; most divers visit by boat as a second dive or tank-finisher, combining it with Rhino Head's limestone reefs nearby. The Willyama is part of the Investigator Strait Shipwreck Trail and is protected. It suits Open Water divers comfortable in some current, and snorkellers can see the upper wreckage on calm days.
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 Willyama 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- 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 Willyama 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 Willyama 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
Sweep, old wives, magpie perch, zebrafish, leatherjackets, trevally, western blue groper, southern rock lobster, sponges and kelp
Location
Steel coal steamer wrecked in 1907 on limestone reef about 160-500 m off Pelican Point/Rhino Head, Marion Bay; broken and scattered in 1-12 m with the sternpost and steering quadrant visible at low water.
Facilities nearby
Boat ramp, toilets, general store, caravan park and pub at Marion Bay.
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.aumarinelife.org.ausdfsa.netRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.