The Buffalo is a Landing Vehicle Tracked, the tracked amphibious troop and cargo carrier used throughout the Second World War; about 18,500 were built in several versions. This one is 7.95 m long and weighs about 16.5 tonnes. It sank in 1970, and DSAC suggests it may have been used after the war to ferry people between the Mandorah ferry and the beach. It was found by Shaun Uden of Fish Darwin, who also located the C-47 Dakota.

The vehicle sits upright on a rocky outcrop in about 23 m and is virtually intact - the tracks, sponsons and open cargo well are all recognisable, which makes it an unusual subject in a harbour where most historic structure has been salvaged or buried. The outcrop adds a small area of reef with sponges and resident fish. It is a compact site, easily seen in one dive, and is usually dived by locals who want something different from the ship and aircraft wrecks. The East Point military museum (Darwin Military Museum) has a similar LVT on display in good condition, well worth seeing before or after the dive to understand what you are looking at. Suited to Advanced divers comfortable at 23 m in low visibility. The Buffalo also shows how the harbour's wreck record extends well beyond the two big disaster events: small craft lost in ordinary post-war use have become dive sites in their own right, and many more are known only to local fishers. Because the position is not published and the vehicle is small, visiting divers need to go with someone who holds the mark.

Boat only. The Buffalo was located by Shaun Uden of Fish Darwin and is dived using local marks; launch at Cullen Bay Marina or the Cullen Bay public ramp and cross the harbour, a run of 15-20 minutes in good conditions. Because the vehicle is small and sits on a rocky outcrop, a precise GPS mark and a shot placed on the sand beside it are essential.

Time the dive for neap high-water slack.

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 the shot beside the rocky outcrop, circle the upright vehicle to see the tracks, cargo well and hull shape, then explore the reef around the outcrop before returning to the line.

No regular operator; dived by Darwin Sub Aqua Club and occasional private groups with the mark.