Meet the site
The Truck Tipper reef is made from something unique to a mining territory: 20 side-tipper trailers from mining road trains, sunk with two decommissioned steel vessels in about 15 m of water off Lee Point. The steel tipper bodies – big open-topped bins designed to dump ore sideways – sit on the mud and sand in a loose group and have become a set of ready-made caves and overhangs for fish.
In 2005 local fishermen added the Kay Lee, a 15 m steel commercial fishing vessel donated by John Conway, close to the tipper site. DSAC describes her sitting upright with a slight list to port, wheelhouse and shade structure intact, two open foredeck hatches and an engine room hatch, and a resident giant groper of around 1.8 m. The Kay Lee is covered as a separate dive record, but most divers combine the two sites.
On the tippers themselves expect golden snapper, fingermark, estuary cod and black jewfish sheltering inside the bins, with trevally, queenfish and baitfish above. The two steel vessels add some height and more cover. Everything is encrusted with sponges, oysters, hydroids and algae, and the growth is richer than you might expect from the turbid water.
As with all Lee Point reefs, visibility is modest and silt lies on every flat surface. Good buoyancy is essential, as is care around fishing line. The shallow depth allows a long, relaxed dive, and the site is close to the Buffalo Creek ramp. It suits Open Water divers with low-visibility experience and a boat, and it offers a very Territory mix of mining hardware and fish life.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Truck Tipper Artificial Reef is recorded as Artificial Reef in Darwin Offshore & Artificial Reefs. 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.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- 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 Truck Tipper Artificial Reef 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 Truck Tipper Artificial Reef 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
Golden snapper, fingermark, estuary cod, black jewfish, Queensland groper (at nearby Kay Lee), trevally, queenfish, baitfish, sponges, oysters
Location
Middle reef of the Lee Point group (12°17.979'S 130°50.370'E), with the Kay Lee fishing-boat wreck nearby.
Facilities nearby
Buffalo Creek boat ramp (trailer parking, no fuel); nearest air fills and fuel in Darwin.
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
nt.gov.audsac.com.aumarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
