Meet the site
The St Paul is the deepest and most serious of the Smith Rock wrecks. She was a steel single-screw steamer of 1,660 tons, about 230 ft long, built in France in 1912. On her last voyage she was carrying 2,800 tons of chrome ore from New Caledonia when she struck Smith Rock in 1914 and sank, with the loss of 18 lives including her captain. She came to rest about 1,000 m east of the rock on a gentle sand slope in 38-43 m. After more than a century the superstructure has largely collapsed, but the heavy components remain clearly identifiable: the twin boilers, the engine, winches, the propeller and an anchor. Twisted handrails and parts of the superstructure lie among the debris. The wreck is well covered in sponges and corals, and it attracts pelagic and reef fish, rays, octopus, wobbegongs and large estuary cod. With the right conditions, visibility of 20-30 m lets divers see much of the site from the shot line. Depth is the defining factor. On air, UniDive estimates only about 8 minutes of no-decompression time, and it recommends the wreck only for very experienced divers operating near recreational limits. Currents of up to 2 knots mean the dive must be timed for slack water, and in practice it is best done by technical divers using appropriate gas and a planned decompression schedule rather than as a squeezed no-stop dive. For those equipped for it, the St Paul is one of the more significant deep wrecks within reach of Brisbane.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
St Paul Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Brisbane & Moreton Bay. The listed access is boat (day trip). 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.
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 St Paul 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 St Paul 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
Large estuary cod, pelagic and reef fish, rays, octopus, wobbegongs, sponges and corals
Location
Deep steamer wreck on a sand slope about 1 km east of Smith Rock, north-east of Cape Moreton, Moreton Island.
Facilities nearby
Departure facilities at Manly or Scarborough boat harbours.
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
marinelife.org.auunidive.orgsupercatcharters.com.aunigelmarshphotography.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.