Meet the site
The Yambacoomba is one of the lesser-known Terrigal wrecks, a wooden steamer that COAST Magazine's Central Coast shipwreck roll records as lost at Skillion Rock in 1917 after losing her steering in bad weather. The Terrigal Underwater Group places her remains near Boat Trailer Reef, about 500 m off Terrigal Haven in around 24 m. Spellings vary in the records - Yambacoomba and Yambacoona both appear - which is typical of the small wooden coastal traders that worked this coast in the early twentieth century. Like most wooden steamers of the period, the Yambacoomba has not survived as a recognisable hull. What divers find is a low, scattered site: iron fastenings and knees, fragments of machinery, and pieces of timber and metal partly buried in sand beside the reef. The attraction is less the structure than the history, and the challenge of reading a debris field - working out where the engine and boiler might have been, and how the vessel broke up after grounding near the headland. Marine life treats the wreckage as extra reef. Small reef fish, blennies and gobies occupy the crevices, wobbegongs rest in the sand beside larger pieces, and yellowtail and sweep hang overhead as they do across the adjacent reef. Nudibranchs and sea hares are regularly seen on the encrusting growth. Because there is no published position and the remains are subtle, this is a site to dive with someone who knows it - Terrigal Underwater Group members are the best source - and it pairs naturally with Boat Trailer Reef on a single tank. It suits divers with an interest in maritime history who are happy with a search dive rather than a swim-through wreck, and it reminds visitors that The Skillion has claimed vessels as well as sheltering them. Like all historic wrecks in NSW, it is protected: look but do not remove anything.
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 Yambacoomba wreck is recorded as Wreck in Central Coast. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
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 Yambacoomba wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced 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 Yambacoomba 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
Yellowtail, silver sweep, wobbegong sharks, blennies, gobies, red morwong, nudibranchs, sea hares
Location
Scattered remains of a wooden steamer lost off Skillion Rock, Terrigal, in 1917, lying near Boat Trailer Reef off Terrigal Haven.
Facilities nearby
Departs Terrigal Haven: paid parking, toilets, kiosk and dive shop.
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
coastmagazine.com.auterrigalunderwatergroup.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.