Northern Territory

Diving in Darwin Harbour

Darwin Harbour is Australia's most historic wreck-diving location. The Japanese air raid of 19 February 1942 sank the USAT Meigs, SS Mauna Loa, British Motorist, Zealandia, Kelat and others, and they remain as protected war graves in 15–25 m, along with the Song Saigon refugee boat and a scatter of barges and aircraft. Visibility is low (3–8 m) and the tidal range reaches 8 m, so every dive is planned around slack water on the neap tides.

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YouDive turtle in an illustrated Northern Territory setting; not a photograph of Darwin Harbour

Custom YouDive mascot art inspired by Northern Territory. An imaginative illustration, not a photograph or map of this destination.

Your bearings, in a minute

Darwin Harbour at a glance

Start with the local site mix, explore the map and find people to ask about your trip.

Explore
42 site records
Recorded settings
Wreck · Aircraft Wreck · Reef
Map coverage
42 locations to explore
Plan with local help
Meet the listed operators

Directory counts describe published records, not bookable trips. Location confidence is shown separately in the map list. How we check information →

Sources, authorship and review status

Prepared by YouDive editorial with AI assistance. No firsthand visit, equipment test or instructor review is implied.

Independent specialist review: pending. We publish a reviewer’s name, qualifications, date and exact review scope only after the review has actually happened.

Who can contribute and how reviews work →

Find your bearings

Explore Darwin Harbour on the map

Compare where the recorded sites sit, then open a site to read its access and source notes. Locations are for orientation, not marine navigation or entry instructions.

42 matching records · 42 with a map location · 0 without a usable position.

The local notebook

Where should you start in Darwin Harbour?

Use the actual places attached to the local records to narrow your research. These are recorded nearby towns and areas, not verified departure points or accommodation recommendations.

Different outings to look into

Details drawn from individual published site records
Local exampleRecorded nearby placeRecorded accessFollow the evidence
Beaufort A9-497DarwinBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
Lee Point Culvert ReefsDarwinBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
Mandorah JettyDarwinShore or BoatRecorded source ↗
The PinnacleDarwinBoat (day trip)Recorded source ↗
How to use this shortlist

Choose the named outing that interests you first. Compare its recorded place and access with your accommodation plans, then obtain the actual meeting address and schedule from the provider. The site links show the underlying depth, location confidence and source notes. Similar town names or map positions do not establish that two outings can be combined in a day.

A closer look at Darwin Harbour

Get a feel for the diving

Our Darwin Harbour directory currently includes 42 published site records. The largest recorded category is wreck (23 records). Use the mix below to decide what you would like to read about first.

The YouDive turtle introducing this destination’s guide

Darwin Harbour: what’s in the directory?

A visual guide to recorded site types. Counts show coverage, not popularity or current availability.

Wreck23 records
Aircraft Wreck8 records
Reef5 records
Artificial Reef2 records
Pinnacle/Bommie2 records
Other recorded types2 records

Source: published YouDive directory records for Darwin Harbour. Bars use the same scale within this graphic; the longest is the largest category, not 100% of the destination.

A few local records to compare

Start with Beaufort A9-497, Lee Point Culvert Reefs, Mandorah Jetty. These are examples from different recorded categories, not a recommended route or a list of the best sites. Open each record for its sources, map and review notes.

One alphabetical example per recorded type, up to four types
SiteRecorded typeAccessDepth
Beaufort A9-497Aircraft WreckBoat (day trip)Maximum recorded: 18 m
Lee Point Culvert Reefs

Details need confirmation

Artificial ReefBoat (day trip)Maximum recorded: 15 m
Mandorah Jetty

Details need confirmation

Jetty/PierShore or BoatDepth not recorded
The PinnaclePinnacle/BommieBoat (day trip)5–15 m

How the recorded depths compare

A dot shows a recorded maximum. A line joins the recorded minimum and maximum when both are available. These are site descriptions, not target depths or certification limits.

Beaufort A9-497Maximum recorded: 18 m
Lee Point Culvert ReefsMaximum recorded: 15 m
Mandorah JettyDepth not recorded

No mark plotted: depth is missing.

The Pinnacle5–15 m

The table above contains the same depth values. Depth alone cannot establish suitability, and records may require correction. Source: the linked site records.

Start an NT diving enquiry with local knowledge

Use the directory to discover names and ask better questions. Establish who currently offers the particular activity, where it takes place and what participation requirements apply before building a holiday around a stored site record.

Turn a record into a current enquiry

A published location may be useful historical or geographic information without describing a trip that can be booked today. Contact a relevant local provider with the site name, your dates and your recent experience. Ask what activities are actually running and which sites may be considered. Keep a clear distinction between a place being listed and an operator agreeing to take you there.

Ask for the whole arrangement

Establish the departure, access permissions, equipment support and current local briefing. Tell the provider which qualifications and equipment you have, rather than assuming a generic beginner or experienced label is enough. If it cannot provide the activity you want, ask about appropriate alternatives and investigate those separately. Avoid making a booking from a map pin or old access description alone.

Keep your travel flexible until the details are clear

Before connecting flights, accommodation and other activities to the outing, get the expected timetable and booking terms. Identify who handles changes and what remains unanswered. The useful outcome of early research may be a different activity or a different date. Leave that possibility open while you confirm the practical details with people who operate locally.

Three conversations worth having before you book

Site research

Is a relevant operator currently offering this activity?

Treat a directory entry as a starting point.

Access enquiry

Which permissions and local briefing apply?

Use current arrangements, not an old pin.

Travel booking

What is confirmed and what may still change?

Keep dependent bookings flexible.

From “that looks lovely” to a plan

Make Darwin Harbour your kind of dive trip

Find your starting point, meet the local options and keep your ideas together. You do not need to have the whole trip worked out yet.

Where are you on your diving journey?

These are learning paths to explore, not prerequisites for every local site. Confirm the actual course, instructor and your readiness with the provider.

People to talk to about Darwin Harbour

These profiles are based in the region or have a sourced link to one of its sites. Shown alphabetically, not as a quality ranking. Ask about the specific trip or course you want.

Listed in this region

Dive Darwin

Darwin

The main verified dive operation in the Northern Territory, offering recreational training through professional level alongside technical diving and a large specialty range.

Listed agencies: padi. Check current affiliations and course availability.

Meet this operator →

Compare these local operators →

Browse all operator profiles in this state or territory →

Let’s put the pieces together

Start with the place and your questions. Add dates and prices once you have spoken with the people running the trip.

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Creates a new trip with this destination, useful reading and starter questions. Saved on this browser; export a backup from My trips.

THE LOCAL PLANNING BRIEF

Understand the options around Darwin Harbour

Use harbour records for research, not self-directed entry

Harbour records may describe historical sites or past activities. Their presence here does not establish a current visitor service or a suitable place to enter the water. Follow current NT Government crocodile-safety information and discuss any proposed activity with a qualified local provider. Ask whether the named site is part of a currently offered, appropriate itinerary before arranging travel around it.

One useful question: Is there a current operator-led activity at this exact location, and which official guidance and permissions apply?

What this regional directory records

There are 42 published site records in Darwin Harbour. The recorded categories include wreck (23), aircraft wreck (8), reef (5), artificial reef (2). These categories reflect the database; they are not a ranking, a conditions report or an assessment of your suitability.

Use the Darwin Harbour site cards to compare recorded access and depth, then open the individual pages for the map accuracy and source notes. Sites grouped in a region are not necessarily close enough to combine in one day.

Research operators in Northern Territory →

Ask before booking

  1. Is there a current, appropriate operator-led activity at this location?
  2. Which official access and wildlife guidance applies?
  3. What permissions and travel arrangements must be confirmed?

Save the answers with the contact name and date. Separate confirmed arrangements from items still waiting for a reply.

Record your trip questions →

Questions, answered

How do I choose a dive in Darwin Harbour?

Begin with the individual site and its source notes, then discuss the proposed trip with a local provider. The 42 published records are research options, not a list of trips available today. Match the plan to your training, recent experience and the operator’s current requirements.

When should I visit Darwin Harbour for diving?

Choose dates with a provider who runs the activity you want, then discuss seasonal patterns, recent conditions and alternative itineraries. A generic best-month claim cannot establish the conditions at your exact site or guarantee a wildlife encounter.

Can I use these maps to enter or navigate a dive site?

No. Recorded and approximate map positions support orientation only. Confirm the exact access, permissions, meeting point and route with the responsible local provider or manager.

Regional planning context: NT Government — Be Crocwise ↗. Directory counts come from published YouDive records. Individual site claims remain subject to their source and review notes.

Dive sites in this region

Find local operators
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Booya

A complete 1917 three-masted schooner lost with five people in Cyclone Tracy and found by chance in 2003.

Boat (day trip)Up to 22 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

British Motorist

Engine-room remains of the tanker that was refuelling USS Peary when the 1942 raid began.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteAircraft Wreck

Darwin Harbour

C-47 Dakota A65-115

An almost intact RAAF Dakota transport that ditched off Mindil Beach in 1946, reached by a heritage mooring and guide line.

Boat (day trip)Up to 22 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

DK 06 Ham Luong

A small, upright refugee boat packed with fish, in reach of two other wrecks on the same dive.

Boat (day trip)Up to 25 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Ellengowan

Darwin Harbour's oldest known shipwreck - an 1866 Norwegian-built missionary steamer with its boiler standing proud.

Boat (day trip)Up to 14 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

John Holland Barge

An upturned construction barge whose cylinders and beams form a maze of overhangs full of fish.

Boat (day trip)Up to 25 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Medkhanun 3

A modern confiscated fishing boat lying intact on its side, with holds and wheelhouse visible - the shallowest of the complex.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

SS Mauna Loa

Holds still full of 1942 war cargo - trucks, Bren carriers, a Harley-Davidson and ammunition.

Boat (day trip)Up to 20 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

SS Zealandia

The former Huddart Parker liner and troopship, now the most coral-covered of the 1942 raid wrecks.

Boat (day trip)Up to 22 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

USAT Meigs

The largest ship sunk in the 1942 raid, with a Bren gun carrier in the bow, trucks, railway iron and ammunition dumps still on…

Boat (day trip)Up to 18 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

USS Peary

The US destroyer sunk with 88 of her crew in the first raid on Darwin; the harbour's deepest and most solemn WWII dive.

Boat (day trip)Up to 30 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteAircraft Wreck

Darwin Harbour

Beaufort A9-497

An intact RAAF Beaufort bomber with guns and cockpit instruments in place, found by sonar and kept undisturbed.

Boat (day trip)Up to 18 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Bellbird

An upturned Cyclone Tracy trawler draped in gorgonians, a few minutes from the CBD and sheltered from the trade winds.

Boat (day trip)Up to 16 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteAircraft Wreck

Darwin Harbour

Catalina A24-1 (Catalina 1)

The RAAF's first Catalina, crashed on take-off in 1945 and left on a mangrove mud bank where its engines show at low tide.

Boat (day trip)Up to 5 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteAircraft Wreck

Darwin Harbour

Catalina A24-206 (Catalina 3)

An RAAF Catalina sunk by an accidental depth-charge explosion in 1945 that killed two airmen; nose section intact.

Boat (day trip)Up to 16 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteAircraft Wreck

Darwin Harbour

Catalina A24-69 (Catalina 2)

The most intact RAAF Catalina in the harbour, with its bow and cockpit section still recognisable in 10-12 m.

Boat (day trip)Up to 12 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Darwin Princess

The upturned ferry that disappeared with her skipper during Cyclone Tracy and was found only in 2004.

Boat (day trip)Up to 26 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

DSAC Barge

The club's own upturned barge reef, surrounded by a yacht, work boat and concrete structures, with tame fish.

Boat (day trip)Up to 25 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Darwin Harbour

Dudley Point Bommies

A wide field of shallow coral bommies with clownfish and long, easy bottom times.

Boat (day trip)Up to 8 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteReef

Darwin Harbour

East Point Reef

A convenient shallow macro site off East Point Reserve, full of sponges, sea whips and small fish.

Shore or BoatUp to 8 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Kay Lee

An intact, upright steel fishing boat in 14 m with a resident grouper around 1.8 m long.

Boat (day trip)Up to 14 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Kelat

A relaxed 12 m dive on the remains of an 1881 iron sailing ship turned naval coal hulk, sunk after the 1942 raid.

Boat (day trip)Up to 12 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

Mandorah Queen

A Cyclone Tracy ferry lost with three crew, now almost buried in sand but still a magnet for big fish.

Boat (day trip)Up to 21 m
NTYouDive mascot illustration; not a photograph of the siteWreck

Darwin Harbour

MV Neptuna remnants

Fragments of the munitions ship whose explosion at Stokes Hill Wharf killed 45 people on 19 February 1942.

Boat (day trip)Up to 10 m