Meet the site
The Betsey Island graveyard, west of Little Betsey Island at the mouth of the Derwent, is Hobart's ships' graveyard: from the 1930s to the 1980s obsolete vessels, barges and sections of the old floating bridge were towed here and scuttled in about 20-34 m. The Marine Life Network guide calls it a huge concentration of wreck dives very close to Hobart, with a pebble-and-mud bottom that stirs up easily, poor visibility after bad weather or decaying Storm Bay swell, and massive yellow and white jewel anemones and, at times, hordes of school fish on the wrecks. The Boyer was a steam turbine-driven tug and, according to the guide, the last working steam vessel on the Derwent. She was 60 tons and was scuttled close to the Macquarie in the 1980s. Her hull is intact, although most of the superstructure was removed before scuttling, leaving a compact, tug-shaped hull sitting on the bottom in about 20 m. Its small size makes it easy to circle in a few minutes, and its intact shape makes it one of the more satisfying wrecks in the graveyard despite the low visibility. Jewel anemones and encrusting growth cover the hull, and schools of small fish hang over it. The tug is named after Boyer, the site of the Australian Newsprint Mills paper mill up the Derwent, whose paper was carried downriver by barges – some of which now lie scuttled nearby. The Boyer, the barges and the Macquarie together form a cluster that can be explored on one dive in reasonable visibility. Because the superstructure is gone, there is little to penetrate, and divers should stay outside the hull. The wreck is a tangible piece of Hobart's working-harbour history, from the era when steam tugs handled the river's shipping.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Tug Boyer (Betsey Island) is recorded as Wreck in Hobart & Derwent. 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.
- 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 Tug Boyer (Betsey Island) 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 Tug Boyer (Betsey Island) 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
Jewel anemones, encrusting invertebrates, small schooling fish, leatherjackets, crabs
Location
Intact hull of the steam turbine-driven tug Boyer, the last working steam vessel on the Derwent, scuttled in the 1980s close to the Macquarie in about 20 m.
Facilities nearby
South Arm and Lauderdale boat ramps; fills in Hobart.
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.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.