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Log This Dive

Catherine Hill Coal Loader

We love the Catherine Hill Bay Coal Loader for a shallow dive with some real history. It’s right there, the old loader, reaching out into the bay, and what lies beneath is a tangled metal world. You're mostly exploring chains, cables, and the scattered bones of the SS Wallarah, all resting on a sandy bottom at around 10 meters. It’s a site for those who appreciate industrial archaeology mixed with surprising marine life, not for big pelagics or vibrant corals. Visibility often sits around 7 meters, so get close to appreciate the details. We’ve finned past schools of butterfish weaving through the pilings, and seen Patrician wrasse darting between the rusty infrastructure. Keep an eye on the sand for stargazers peeking out, or perhaps a smallspine turretfish shuffling along. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, peering into every shadowy corner of the metalwork, where nudibranchs and sea stars cling on. You’ll definitely feel the structure’s scale, even in the murkier conditions.