The Cetacea is a small wreck with a big reputation. A 13 m fishing trawler that sank in 1992, she lies in about 30 m on open sand roughly 11 km from the 1770 bar – the closest of the 1770 wrecks to port. Marinelife.org.au describes her as 'absolutely teeming with fish', and marine biologist Dave Harasti named her his favourite wreck, recording 'at least 40 estuary cod' living around a hull only 13 m long.

Alongside the cod, divers see Queensland gropers, giant cobia, bull rays and leopard rays. Over three decades the hull has accumulated soft corals, sponges and algae, turning a plain working boat into a dense little reef on otherwise featureless sand. The small size means you can see the whole wreck several times over in one dive, so the experience is about the density of large fish rather than exploration.

Depth is the main consideration: at 30 m, bottom time is limited on air and the dive suits Advanced divers with deep experience; nitrox extends it. There is no penetration of note on a vessel this size. Because the wreck is small and isolated, accurate GPS is needed to find it, and some current can be expected – dive at slack water.

The Cetacea is not visited by any scheduled operator; divers reach it on private boats or technical/charter trips from 1770. It makes a good pairing with the Karma or with the reef trips that run from 1770 to Lady Musgrave and Fitzroy reefs, for divers who want to see what a small, undisturbed wreck in rich water can hold.

Boats launch at the Seventeen Seventy boat ramp on Round Hill Creek (at the end of Captain Cook Drive in the town of 1770, about 6 km north of Agnes Water; the town is 2 hours' drive north of Bundaberg via Rosedale or the coast road). The Round Hill Creek bar is shallow and should be crossed on the top half of the tide in a calm sea. The Cetacea is about 11.4 km from the bar at the position published by marinelife.org.au (24°03'04"S 151°55'28"E) – roughly 20-30 minutes in a trailer boat.

Drop a shot line on the wreck; there is no mooring.

These offshore sites lie north of the protection of K'gari and are exposed to the south-east trade winds that blow for much of the year, so they need a calm spell – winds under about 12-15 knots and seas under 1-1.5 m – for a small boat to make the run and anchor safely. North-westerly and westerly winds in winter give the flattest seas and the best visibility (up to 30-40 m on the outer wrecks). The wrecks are tidal: plan to dive at high-water slack, and prefer neap tides, as the current can run hard across open sand on springs.

The Round Hill Creek and Turkey Beach bars are shallow and dangerous on a low tide with swell. Summer brings northerly sea breezes, storms and cyclone risk (November-April).

Descend the shot straight to the small wreck at 28-30 m and circle it slowly – the cod are packed around and under the hull. Keep within no-deco limits (nitrox helps), return to the shot and complete a safety stop.

Nitrox (EAN28-30) recommended.

Dive Spear and Sport @ 1770 (opened December 2022) offers technical wreck diving to 48 m for qualified divers on demand; otherwise private boat or club charter from 1770 or Turkey Beach. No scheduled recreational trips.