The Bellbird was an 82 ft (25 m), 197-ton prawn trawler owned by Gollin Kyokuyo Fishing Co. At the time of Cyclone Tracy she was out of service with her engines removed and tied up on the inner face of Fort Hill Wharf. Cyclone Tracy crossed Darwin in the early hours of 25 December 1974 with gusts estimated at over 200 km/h, destroying most of the city and killing 66 people, many of them at sea. More than 20 vessels sank or were driven ashore in and around the harbour, and several of those wrecks now form a second, much more intact wreck trail beside the 1942 sites. During the storm she broke from her moorings, capsized and came to rest off Doctors Gully, where the old iron-ore loading wharf used to stand.

She lies upside down in about 15-16 m, canted at an angle because her cabin and trawling gear hold one side off the bottom. Large gorgonian fans have grown on the upturned hull, and there is plenty of other debris around the site from the ore wharf. The angle leaves gaps into the interior that trained wreck divers with a torch can look into, but the silt is easily disturbed and light penetration varies. Fish life is good for an inshore site: Moorish idols, coral trout and rock cod are regulars. DSAC describes it as an interesting dive close to shore and out of the weather, and that is its main value - it is often the fallback when south-easterlies or a sloppy sea make the outer harbour uncomfortable. It suits Open Water divers comfortable in low visibility, and works well as a short second dive.

Boat. The wreck is only a few minutes from Cullen Bay Marina or the Cullen Bay ramp, running east along the CBD shoreline to Doctors Gully (where the Aquascene fish-feeding is held). The Stokes Hill / Frances Bay ramp is about as close from the other side.

Close to shore and sheltered, it is a useful option when wind rules out the outer harbour. Mark with GPS and shot; watch for other vessels using the waterfront.

Tide is everything in Darwin Harbour: the spring range is 7-8 m and tidal streams run hard through the harbour, so diving is generally only possible on neap tides (range under about 3-4 m), timed to the slack at high water when clearer ocean water sits over the site. Spring tides bring strong currents and silt-laden water with near-zero visibility. The dry season (May-October) gives the most consistent conditions; the south-east trade winds can chop up exposed water in the afternoon, so mornings are best.

In the wet season (November-April) run-off from the rivers and creeks drops visibility, afternoon storms build quickly, and the harbour is in cyclone season; box jellyfish are present October-May.

Descend at neap slack, circle the upturned hull to see the gorgonians on the keel, then examine the surrounding debris from the old ore wharf. Penetration of the interior is only for trained wreck divers with a line and torch - silt comes up instantly. Ascend on the shot.

Darwin Dive Centre and Dive Darwin run harbour wreck charters only on neap-tide windows (typically a few days either side of each neap, weekends favoured); Darwin Sub Aqua Club dives it on club neap-tide days (members plan dives at Thursday meetings at the Darwin Ski Club). No daily schedule.