wreck

Log This Dive

MARCO POLO

The Marco Polo, she’s a beauty, even if she barely tickles the surface. We love this site for a relaxed dip, perfect for a long snorkel or a shallow dive when the sun’s out. She was a steel sailing vessel, wrecked on Jack’s Reef in a December gale back in 1915, and now her bones lie just two metres deep. It’s an incredible insight into a bygone era, with ribs and plating scattered across the seabed, forming a skeletal outline of her 75-metre length. You’ll weave through the twisted metal, observing the kelp that sways with the gentle current, creating a green forest around the wreck. Look closely and you’ll find butterfish darting between the plates, and often, we’ve spotted small crabs scuttling over the rust-coloured steel. It’s a peaceful, surprisingly vibrant encounter with history, ideal for photographers wanting to capture the interplay of light and shadow, or for less experienced divers looking for an easy, rewarding exploration. We’d suggest heading out here on a calm day, when the sun can really illuminate the wreck, bringing out the subtle colours of the marine growth.