The Duckenfield Wreck Dive

The Duckenfield was lost to knowledge from 1889 till it was rediscovered by Alan and Neil McLennan almost 100 years later in 1987. On 24 May 1989, exactly 100 years after the sinking, the McLennans released details of the wreck to the diving public in a gala event at the University of NSW.

As the Duckenfield passed Broken Bay, heavy rain began to fall and the land was lost from sight. At 7.00pm, the ship approached Long Reef and a few minutes later the Duckenfield was aground on the rock platform. Although the ship was on the shore, the water was 60 feet deep under the bow and already two feet of water was in the engine room.

The ship was abandoned and all crew safely left the vessel in the lifeboats. Picked up by the Hawkesbury, the crew arrived at Watsons Bay in Sydney Harbour at 10pm. The Marine Board of Inquiry found that “the Duckenfield was lost by the wrongful act or default of Thomas Hunter, the Master, in navigating too close to the coast and approaching Sydney from the northward without opening out the South Head light”.

The Wall aka “the Apartments”

This site is located north of Sydney Harbour just off Long Reef. The site is known as The Wall or The Apartments. The first name is obvious, but the second not so.  There are hundreds of boulders on this site that create make shift “apartments” looking areas.   (12 to 22 meters)  The reef consists of huge rocks and boulders forming beautiful caverns. Huge numbers of schools of fish, large pelagics and wobbegongs are seen at this site.  Great 2nd relatively shallow dive after visiting near by Coolooli, plenty of swim through’s and caverns!