Meet the site
Wareatea was a small passenger and cargo steamer of 511 tons built at Paisley, Scotland, in 1883, 51.9 m (170 ft) long with a 26 ft beam. She came to Australia for the Tasmanian trade and from about Federation until the end of the Second World War ran between Melbourne and the ports of Tasmania's north coast – Devonport, Burnie, Stanley – carrying passengers, potatoes, timber and general cargo across one of the roughest stretches of water in the country. Her 61-year career was punctuated by breakdowns and groundings, faithfully recorded in the Melbourne press, but she survived them all. Stripped and worthless in 1945, she was scuttled in the Graveyard on 16 March that year. The wreck lies in about 48 m at the western end of the field, close to the Edward Northcote and the Euro. Published detail is limited because it is seldom visited, but divers describe a steel hull with two cargo hatches and a central superstructure still readable, the hull sides partly collapsed, and thick encrusting growth – sponges, soft corals and zoanthids – over the standing structure. Schooling butterfly perch and bullseyes, ling in the holds and crayfish in the plating are the norm; visibility is usually 10–20 m on a settled day. At 48 m it is a normoxic-trimix dive, and with no regular charter the Wareatea is one of the western Graveyard wrecks that experienced Melbourne technical divers tick off from private boats when the weather cooperates. It suits divers who have done the Batman group and Euro and want a quieter, less-documented hull with genuine Bass Strait history.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Wareatea is recorded as Wreck in Port Phillip Heads. 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.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- 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 Wareatea suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). 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 Wareatea 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
Sponges, soft corals, yellow zoanthids, butterfly perch, bullseyes, ling, southern rock lobster
Location
Western Ships' Graveyard about 9 km south-south-east of Barwon Heads, 422 m east of the Edward Northcote.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Queenscliff Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, fills at Dive Victoria/Queenscliff Dive Centre) or Portsea Pier (parking on Point Nepean Road, toilets, cafes).
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
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.audivernet.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
