Meet the site
The Woniora is one of the deepest regularly identified wrecks off Sydney and a serious technical dive in the approaches to Port Botany. She was an iron collier built by Richardsons at Newcastle upon Tyne and launched in April 1863 – 42 m long, 6 m wide and 226 tons, with three holds, three masts for auxiliary sail and a rare 90 hp two-cylinder engine (one of only two such engines known on NSW wrecks) fed by a single coal-fired boiler. Owned in Sydney by Lloyd and Co. and later linked with the Bulli Coal Company, she carried Illawarra coal to Sydney. On 28 October 1882 she left Bulli jetty with 242 tons of coal under Captain Henry Lauridson in heavy rain and a big easterly sea. About 9 pm, roughly three miles off Cape Solander, the cargo shifted to port, the ship took on a heavy list and suddenly rolled over and sank. Of the 15 to 17 aboard, only Heinrich Frederickson survived, drifting on an upturned lifeboat until he reached Kurnell beach at about 2 am. The Marine Board found she had been overloaded and driven too hard for the weather. Fishermen knew the site for years and Max Gleeson heard of it in 1985; John Riley and Kevin Laybutt made the first dive in June 1987 and recovered the bell. The wreck lies roughly north–south, bow north, on sand at 63 m. The main structure covers about 21 m: the engine stands upright at 59 m and the boiler rises to 58 m with the base of the funnel visible, while aft the stern post, rudder and a propeller with one blade exposed poke from the sand. The hull sides stand about a metre proud along the length, and forward an unidentified donkey boiler, a large winch and scattered items lie near the bow. Fish life is prolific, with dense schools of nannygai and yellowtail over the wreck. Because of the depth, the currents and its position in the shipping channel, the Woniora is strictly for well-drilled trimix teams with full surface support.
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 Woniora 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.
- 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 Woniora 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 Woniora 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), yellowtail, bullseyes, yellowtail kingfish, seapike, conger eels, sponges and sea whips
Location
Deep 1863 iron collier lying in 63 m of sand in the Botany Bay shipping approaches, off the entrance about 3 miles from Cape Solander, bow to the north.
Facilities nearby
Departure only: Botany Bay ramps (Kyeemagh, Foreshore Road, Bonna Point) with parking and toilets; trimix fills at 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 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
