Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 8 Nov 2026
Conference Wreck
Perth, Western Australia · near Mindarie
| Depth | 10–16 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Boat; anchor in sand patches near the bow |
| Current | Mild |
| Visibility | 5–15 m |
| Water | summer 21–23 °C, winter 17–19 °C |
| Suit | 5–7 mm wetsuit with hood; 7 mm or semi-dry in winter |
| Best season | Summer and autumn mornings |
| Bottom time | 40 min |
| Position | -31.67147, 115.66077 (GPS) |
| Permit | None required; historic shipwreck protection may apply. |
| Nearest chamber | Fiona Stanley Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Murdoch, Perth) |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Conference Wreck
Also known as Conference
A collapsed but recognisable 1855 iron barque hulk on kelp-covered reef, 10 minutes from Mindarie.
Near Mindarie · Perth, Western Australia
- Depth
- 10–16 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- ~10 min
- Water
- 21–23 °C
- Visibility
- 5–15 m
Conference Wreck10–16 m · Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, May, December.
Dive facts
- Depth
- 10–16 m
- Typical depth
- 14 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Depth tier
- Open Water (10–18 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Offshore
- 2.8 km
- Dive centre needed
- Recommended
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~10 min
- Current
- Mild
- Visibility
- 5–15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 21–23 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 17–19 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 40 min
- Dive traffic
- Moderate (occasional charters/club dives)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood; 7 mm or semi-dry in winter
Location
Offshore Quinns Rocks · Perth Metro – North (Mindarie, Quinns & Alkimos)
-31.67147, 115.66077
Published GPS position.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: divingwawrecks.comMarine park & permits
None required; historic shipwreck protection may apply.
Nearest recompression chamber
Fiona Stanley Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Murdoch, Perth)
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Conference Wreck →
A day-by-day plan for Perth with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Conference Wreck is a wreck boat dive in Perth, WA, 10–16 m, suited to Open Water divers, about 10 minutes by boat.
Rated intermediate because of boat traffic overhead.
Why dive here
- A collapsed but recognisable 1855 iron barque hulk on kelp-covered reef, 10 minutes from Mindarie.
- Sunk in 1905; protected as underwater cultural heritage, so look but do not touch.
About Conference Wreck
The Conference was an iron barque of 420 tons, built in 1855. After about 40 years of service she was hulked in Albany and was scuttled off the northern Perth coast in 1905 (some sources say 1904). She lies about 2 nautical miles north-west of Mindarie Marina in 12–16 m, on broken limestone reef with kelp beds.
The wreck site extends about 45 m on a north-west to south-east axis. It has collapsed but is still recognisable as a ship. The rudder and stern post were the only upright structure, but divingwawrecks reported in 2023 that the steering quadrant on the rudder post had deteriorated and collapsed. The Marine Life Network describes visible ribs, scattered iron plate, a mast amidships, some machinery and bunker coal.
Corals and sponges cover the ironwork, and western blue devils, old wives, buffalo bream, wrasse and bullseyes shelter in the wreckage. The surrounding reef adds ledges and kelp to explore.
The Conference is a good intermediate wreck dive, closer and shallower than the Gemini, and it can be dived on more days. It suits Open Water divers with boat experience, and it pairs well with the nearby reef sites such as Gordon's Grotto and the Coral Garden. Anchoring is the main practical challenge. Because it lies only 10 minutes from the ramp, it is also a practical choice for a second dive after the Gemini, keeping the day's deepest dive first.
Water temperatures on this coast range from about 17–18 °C in late winter to 22–23 °C in late summer; a 7 mm wetsuit with a hood suits most of the year.
Wreck details
Iron barque, later hulk; built 1855, 420 tons, about 45 m site length · Sunk 1905 · Protected historic shipwreck
Era: early 20th century. Oldest wrecks · Wartime wrecks · Scuttled warships
Other wrecks of the same era
- Omeo Wreck & Coogee Maritime Trail · Max 7 m · Perth
- Kingfisher Wreck (Princess Royal Harbour) · Max 3 m · Albany & Great Southern
- RMS Orizaba Wreck · Max 12 m · Perth
- Camilla Hulk (Naval Base) · Max 3.5 m · Perth
- SS Mildura Wreck · Max 4 m · Ningaloo – Exmouth
- Zvir · Max 10 m · Ningaloo – Coral Bay
Getting there & entry
Collapsed iron barque hulk scuttled in 1905 on broken limestone reef in 12–16 m, about 2 nautical miles north-west of Mindarie Marina, 2.8 km west of Quinns Rocks.
Launch at the Mindarie Marina public ramp (Mindarie Keys, off Marmion Avenue, about 40 minutes from the Perth CBD). Run about 2 nautical miles north-west to S 31°40.288' E 115°39.646' (bow). Anchoring is tricky on the broken reef: find the sand patches near the bow and set the anchor there, repositioning on descent if needed.
The run takes about 10 minutes.
Entry: Boat; anchor in sand patches near the bow
Facilities: Mindarie Marina ramp and services.
Weather, swell & tides
The north-metro offshore sites face the open Indian Ocean with no island shelter. Swell comes mainly from the south-west and west, and the summer south-westerly sea breeze usually arrives late morning to early afternoon, making the run home rough. The Conference is diveable in swell under about 1.5 m.
Because it is closer inshore than the Gemini, it can be dived on more days, but visibility falls after swell. Dive in the morning before the sea breeze.
Best season: Summer and autumn mornings
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Conference Wreck doesn't.
- Boyinaboat Reef · 18 km · Max 7 m
- MAAC Dive and Snorkel Trail · 20 km · Max 6 m
- Mettams Pool · 23 km · Max 7 m
- Little Island (Marmion) · 15 km · Max 10 m
How the dive is usually run
Anchor in sand near the bow, follow the wreck along its north-west to south-east axis to the stern post and rudder, then explore the surrounding reef and kelp before returning to the anchor.
Marine life
- Western blue devils →
- old wives
- buffalo bream
- wrasse
- bullseyes
- corals
- sponges
- kelp
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Within the 18 m limit of an entry-level certification.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Difficult anchoring on broken reef; sharp, collapsing ironwork; boat traffic from Mindarie; swell.
Dive centres that go here
Occasional charters and club dives from Mindarie; private boats.
Operators recorded for Conference Wreck
Perth Scuba
ProfiledCanning Vale · Perth · WA
One of the most fully documented operations in Western Australia, covering recreational, professional, technical and freediving training alongside substantial equipment facilities.
perthscuba.com · (08) 9455 4448
Bucket List Diver
Named by sitesFremantle · Perth · WA
bucketlistdiver.com · (08) 9200 4447
UWA Underwater Club
Named by sitesCrawley · Rottnest Island · WA
University of Western Australia dive club (operating since 1968); club, not a shop.
uwauc.org.au
Image Dive & Charters
Named by sitesHillarys · Perth · WA
Image Dive Pty Ltd trading as Image Dive and Charters; boat dive charters from Hillarys.
imagedive.com.au · 0417 957 870
Other dive centres in Perth
Dolphin Scuba Diving
ProfiledWelshpool · Perth · WA
A Perth business providing training, equipment and service support.
dolphinscuba.com.au · (08) 9353 2488
ADRENO Perth
ListedO'Connor · Perth · WA
An equipment retailer with a spearfishing and freediving emphasis. Primarily retail rather than a training centre.
adreno.com.au/pages/contact-us-perth · (08) 6424 8480
Dive Imports
ListedMt Hawthorn · Perth · WA
A Perth equipment business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
diveimports.com · (08) 9443 1657
Dolphin Dive Fremantle
ListedSouth Fremantle · Perth · WA
A Fremantle operation serving local divers, with proximity to Rottnest Island departures.
dolphindive.com.au
Perth Diving Academy
ListedHillarys · Perth · WA
A Perth training business serving the metropolitan recreational market.
perthdiving.com.au · (08) 9448 6343
Spear West
ListedPerth · WA
A Perth spearfishing and freediving business. This serves a different customer from a conventional scuba centre.
spearwest.com.au · 0411 063 351
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views


Conference Wreck: frequently asked questions
How deep is Conference Wreck?
Conference Wreck reaches a maximum depth of 16 m, with the shallowest part at about 10 m; most of the dive is spent around 14 m.
What certification do I need to dive Conference Wreck?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated intermediate because of boat traffic overhead.
Can I shore dive Conference Wreck?
No, it is reached by boat (about 10 minutes).
When is the best time to dive Conference Wreck?
Summer and autumn mornings.
What marine life will I see at Conference Wreck?
Regularly recorded: Western blue devils, old wives, buffalo bream, wrasse, bullseyes, corals, sponges, kelp.
What wetsuit do I need at Conference Wreck?
5–7 mm wetsuit with hood; 7 mm or semi-dry in winter.
How cold is the water at Conference Wreck?
Typically 21–23 °C in summer and 17–19 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Conference Wreck?
Difficult anchoring on broken reef; sharp, collapsing ironwork; boat traffic from Mindarie; swell. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Conference Wreck?
Fiona Stanley Hospital hyperbaric medicine unit (Murdoch, Perth). In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Perth
Perth's metropolitan coast from Rockingham to Mindarie has limestone reef ledges, caves and swim-throughs in 5–20 m, the wreck trails at Rockingham and Coogee (Omeo, the Saxon Ranger, the Kwinana Grain Jetty), the Blackwall Reach river dive, and dozens of easy shore entries. Tropical fish arrive on the Leeuwin Current each summer to join the temperate regulars.
Getting there: All within an hour of the city with beach car parks; charters from Fremantle, Hillarys and Mindarie for the offshore reefs.
Sources
Data confidence: High · Being verified: Scuttling year 1904 or 1905.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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