The Crown of England, an 80 m, 1,847-ton Norwegian sailing ship, was driven onto Depuch Island in March 1912 by a cyclone with 100-knot winds and broke into three pieces; about eight crew died.

The hull lies parallel to the rocky shore, bow to the south, in 3–9 m depending on the tide, and its outline is easy to follow. Extensive collapsed mast sections extend into deeper water, the anchor is still set with its cable leading to the bow, a boiler lies near the northern mast sections, and small structural areas form tight swim-throughs. The oyster-encrusted bow rises above the surface. Visibility is 2–5 m and the site is sheltered from swell but swept by extreme currents.

Balla Balla was a short-lived port serving the Whim Creek copper mine in the 1890s–1910s, with a tramway to a landing and an anchorage off Depuch Island, itself famous for Aboriginal rock art. The combination of extreme tides, poor anchoring, low visibility and remoteness means these wrecks are visited only by self-sufficient expedition divers with a live boat and surface support.

Planning notes: Wreck specialty recommended certification is recommended and the site is rated advanced. Expect to spend most of the dive around 6 m, with a maximum of about 9 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Currents are significant, so timing around the tide is part of the plan. Best season: April–October on neap tides. Traffic: remote/expedition only.

Balla Balla and Depuch Island lie on the Pilbara coast between Point Samson and Port Hedland, about 100 km east of Karratha. Access is by 4WD to the coast near the old Balla Balla landing (station country – check access) and a private boat launched on a suitable tide, or by boat from Point Samson. The area is beyond radio range; a manned boat must stay on standby.

Extreme tidal currents dominate: dive only at slack water on neap tides, ideally on the flood for better visibility (typically 2–5 m). The sites are protected from ocean swell but exposed to strong easterlies in winter. Cyclone season November–April — the 1912 cyclone that wrecked Crown of England had 100-knot winds.

Crocodiles are not normally an issue this far south, but sharks and stingers are.

At slack neap flood, enter near the oyster-encrusted bow breaking the surface, follow the hull south to north along the shore, then drop to the collapsed masts and boiler in deeper water. Keep the live boat close.

No penetration beyond tight open swim-throughs.

No regular operator – private expeditions only.