The City of York is Rottnest's most tragic wreck and one of its most rewarding shallow wreck dives. She was a Glasgow-built iron barque of 1,194 tons and about 70 m, bound from San Francisco with Oregon timber and 5,000 doors. On the stormy night of 12 July 1899 the Rottnest lighthouse sighted her approaching from the north. The assistant keeper's flare, intended as a warning to stand off, was taken by the master as the pilot boat's signal, and he steered towards it and onto the reef in about 5 fathoms. The crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats; one capsized, and 11 men, including Captain Phillip Jones, were drowned (the Museum gives the master plus 11 crew). The same storm also wrecked the Carlisle Castle off Rockingham.

The wreck lies down a sloping reef in 3-10 m. In the shallows, decking is still distinguishable; further down are the stern and rudder, hull plating, the anchor and windlass, and on the sand at the base the masts, yardarms and rigging lie where they fell. The remains are weed-covered, and the reef crevices around them have collected broken fragments. A WA Museum plaque marks the site, and the wreck gave the bay its name.

It is an easy, atmospheric dive for Open Water divers when the north coast is calm, and a good second dive after the deeper north-coast reefs such as North Point. Protected historic shipwreck. On the land side, the anchor recovered from the wreck is displayed on the museum trail, so it is worth seeing both.

Charter boats from Fremantle (Perth Scuba, Bucket List Diver) reach the north coast of Rottnest in about 45-70 minutes depending on the site; private boats launch at Fremantle, Woodman Point or Hillarys. City of York Bay is about 7 km west of Thomson Bay along the north shore. The wreck is visible as a dark shape from the surface on clear days; anchor in sand off the reef.

Snorkellers on the island can reach City of York Bay by bike (roughly 8-9 km from the settlement) but the wreck is a longish swim offshore and only sensible on flat days.

Faces north: best in southerly to easterly winds and low swell (divingwawrecks gives under 1.5 m). North-westerly winds and winter storms make it rough and surgy - it was a Force 10 north-westerly gale that wrecked the ship. Summer is the reliable season.

General pattern at Rottnest: summer brings calm morning easterlies followed by a strong south-westerly sea breeze from late morning, so dive early; winter brings north-westerly fronts and large swell, with clear, calm spells between them. Check the Bureau of Meteorology coastal forecast for swell height and period before committing.

Anchor seaward, descend at the deeper end (about 10 m) among the fallen masts and rigging on the sand, work up the slope past the anchor and windlass to the decking in the shallows, then return along the other side and check the crevices, which collect small pieces of wreckage.

Occasional second dive on Perth Scuba and Bucket List Diver Rottnest trips when the north coast is calm; regular dive-club site from private boats.