Meet the site
The Stefano, an 858-ton, 51 m wooden barque, grounded on Ningaloo Reef in 1875 in poorly charted waters while steering to avoid North West Cape. Of 17 crew, 10 reached shore; two young survivors, 16-year-old Miho Baccich and 18-year-old Ivan Jurich, endured three months of starvation and thirst before Aboriginal people rescued them and nursed them back to health — one of the great survival stories of the WA coast.
Little of the wooden hull survives. An anchor, windlass and numerous iron knees lie scattered over the reef top across roughly 40 x 30 m at 11–12 m, with two sandy anchoring areas. Access is by boat from Ningaloo Station (with permission), 30 miles south from Coral Bay, or from South Lefroy Bay 20 miles north; it needs swell under 1 m.
The Point Cloates coast: the stretch of Ningaloo between Coral Bay and Yardie Creek is a notorious ship trap where the reef lies close to the shipping route and an uncharted north-west current set vessels onto the reef. The WA wreck-diving guide divingwawrecks lists nine wrecks here, from the 1811 Rapid to the 1931 Chofuku Maru. All are remote, require a private boat, calm seas and self-sufficiency, and are protected historic sites — look, photograph and leave everything in place.
Planning notes: Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated advanced. Expect to spend most of the dive around 11 m, with a maximum of about 12 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Best season: April–October on glassy days. Traffic: remote/expedition only.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Stefano is recorded as Wreck in Ningaloo – Coral 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.
- 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 Stefano 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 Stefano 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
Reef fish, coral, turtles
Location
Scattered remains of an 1875 Austro-Hungarian wooden barque on the reef south of Black Rock Passage, Ningaloo, in 11–12 m.
Facilities nearby
None; remote station coast. Air in Coral Bay or Exmouth.
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
divingwawrecks.comdivingwawrecks.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.