Meet the site
DSAC's Catalina 5 is a US Navy PBY-4 Catalina whose identity has narrowed to aircraft No. 4 or No. 8 of the US Navy squadron in Darwin; the same two numbers apply to the nearby Catalina 6, and which is which has not been resolved. Darwin Harbour was a major flying-boat base during the Second World War. US Navy Patrol Wing 10 PBYs were moored in the harbour when the Japanese attacked on 19 February 1942, and from 1944 the RAAF operated Catalina squadrons from the harbour on long-range minelaying and patrol missions into the Netherlands East Indies. At least three RAAF and six US Navy Catalinas were lost in the harbour, and DSAC numbers the known wrecks Catalina 1 to 6. The PBY Catalina had a 31.7 m wingspan, a 19.4 m hull and an empty weight of about 9,500 kg, so even a broken wreck covers a surprising area of seabed. According to DSAC the aircraft was bombed and strafed by Japanese aircraft during the February raids; its fuel tanks caught fire, the wings collapsed and it eventually sank. (The club's page lists the year as 1945, which conflicts with the February raid description; 1942 is the likely date.)
The wreck lies in about 12 m on a muddy bottom. Fire destroyed much of the airframe before it sank, so the site is a collapsed wing structure, engines and scattered pieces rather than a recognisable aircraft. It is dived rarely, mostly by DSAC members documenting the harbour's aircraft, and it is a site to approach in an archaeological frame of mind: hover, look, photograph and record, and leave everything as found. For a more complete-looking Catalina, A24-69 is the better choice, but divers working through the harbour's aviation sites will want to include this one. Remember that its sister wreck, Catalina 6, is under a heritage restriction with no entry, so confirm which site you are on before descending.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
US Navy Catalina No.4/8 (Catalina 5) is recorded as Aircraft Wreck in Darwin Harbour. 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.
- 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 US Navy Catalina No.4/8 (Catalina 5) 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 US Navy Catalina No.4/8 (Catalina 5) 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
Estuary cod, snapper, batfish, small reef fish, sponges and hydroids
Location
Darwin Harbour at the 1942 US Navy flying-boat moorings; exact position held by DSAC and NT Heritage.
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
dsac.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.