Meet the site
The TSS Merimbula was a twin-screw steel steamer built in 1909 by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company at Troon, Scotland, for the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company. About 64 m (209 ft) long and 1,111 tons, she carried up to 96 first-class and 10 second-class passengers plus cargo on the Sydney-to-Eden coastal run, a mainstay of the South Coast before road transport took over.
She left Sydney bound for Eden on 25 March 1928 and on 27 March, in deteriorating weather, ran aground on Whale Point at Currarong. Salvage attempts failed and she broke up where she lay. Today the wreck is a declared historic shipwreck and one of the most accessible wreck dives on the South Coast. The bow section lies on the rocks, and the hull runs north-north-east from the reef with its bottom plating lying on the rocky reef, largely uncovered. The two triple-expansion, coal-fired engines have fallen outward from the ship, with the port boiler beside the port engine and the starboard boiler further aft. Propeller shafts run from the engines towards the stern, a large winch and anchor lie on the port side, and the stern section has been displaced onto the sand beyond the reef edge at around 13–14 m.
Because it is shallow – most of the wreck lies in 4–13 m – it suits Open Water divers and snorkellers can see parts of it on calm days. The splayed hull plates, rudder gear and machinery are colonised by kelp and reef fish such as blue groper and luderick. It is best done in a calm sea, when surge is minimal, and it is an excellent second dive after the outer Beecroft Peninsula sites or a stand-alone trip for divers staying in Currarong.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
TSS Merimbula is recorded as Wreck in Shoalhaven Coast. The listed access is shore or 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 TSS Merimbula 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 TSS Merimbula 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
Blue groper, luderick, bream, leatherjackets, wrasse, kelp and weed, sponges on machinery
Location
Remains of a 64 m twin-screw coastal passenger steamer wrecked on Whale Point, Currarong, in 1928; hull bottom on the reef, engines, boilers and stern on sand in 4–14 m.
Facilities nearby
Currarong ocean boat ramp, parking, toilets; general store and café in Currarong; air fills in Huskisson or Nowra.
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.infocurrarong.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.