Friars Craig Wreck

Best months: Jan–Apr

Protected Area

Carslisle Bay

Why dive here

With 379+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, humpback whales, octopuses and orcas - Friars Craig Wreck offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeJan–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Octopuses and Orcas · 379+ species recorded

Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterWreck dive · max 8-18m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Friars Craig, settled upright in the sand at Carlisle Bay, is one of our favourite wreck dives on the south coast. This 60m freighter, scuttled back in the 80s, still feels like a proper ship, not just a pile of metal. At 18 metres max, it’s a good one for some easy penetration – we love swimming through the cargo hold, looking up to see the light filtering down through the deck openings. You'll often find schools of Grey Snapper hanging out around the superstructure, and the Emerald Sleepers are always a treat, darting in and out of the nooks. Keep an eye out for Sponge Cardinalfish tucked into the crevices; they’re masters of camouflage. The corals here, like the Mustard Hill and Grooved Brain, are really establishing themselves on the wreck, turning it into a living reef. It's a great dive for intermediate divers who want to explore a substantial wreck without deep-diving stress, and brilliant for photographers looking for that moody, atmospheric shot inside the holds.