The Degei was a 28 m, 205-ton steel trawler built in 1940, working out of Port Lincoln in the tuna and fishing industries. She was lost on 24 January 1974 with a crew of nine aboard and ended up on the western side of Donington Island, off Cape Donington at the entrance to Boston Bay. The Marine Life Society describes the wreck as still fairly intact, lying on her starboard side in 10-11 m about 20 m from shore, with her structure reaching almost to the surface.

Decades underwater have made her a colourful reef: gorgonians and soft corals cover the wreckage, and she is patrolled by long-snouted boarfish, old wives, scorpionfish, horseshoe leatherjackets and bullseyes, with cuttlefish in the structure. A small, intact steel wreck in shallow, clear water is an excellent dive for Open Water divers and photographers, offering recognisable ship features, good light and plenty of fish. Divers should not enter enclosed spaces, as the hull is lying on its side and interior spaces are disorienting.

The Degei combines naturally with the Cape Donington reefs nearby for a two-dive trip from Kirton Point, and is one of the best wreck dives within easy reach of Port Lincoln. Photographers should bring a wide-angle lens for the gorgonian-covered hull and a macro setup for the scorpionfish and nudibranchs tucked into the structure. Because the wreck rises almost to the surface, skippers must approach slowly and anchor in sand well off the hull, and divers should take care on ascent not to surface under an overhanging part of the structure.

Port Lincoln is about 650 km (7 hours) by road from Adelaide via Port Augusta and the Lincoln Highway, or a 45-50 minute flight (Rex/QantasLink). Launch at the Kirton Point Caravan Park ramp (or Lincoln Cove Marina) and run east across Boston Bay past Cape Donington to Donington Island (about 20-25 minutes). The wreck lies close to shore, about 20 m off the island's western side, and its upper structure comes almost to the surface, so approach carefully.

Boston Bay and the waters around Port Lincoln are sheltered from Southern Ocean swell by Boston Island and the Lincoln National Park coast, so the town jetties can be dived in most weather; strong south-easterly and easterly winds are what chop them up. The islands of Thorny Passage and the lower Eyre coast are progressively more exposed to south-westerly swell and strong tidal streams, and need swell under about 1.5-2 m and light winds. Winter (May-August) brings frequent cold fronts with big south-westerly swell but also calm, clear spells; summer has more reliable weather but regular afternoon south-easterly sea breezes.

Water is cooler than the gulfs, around 13-15°C in winter and 17-20°C in summer. The western side of Donington Island is sheltered from easterlies but exposed to westerly chop across Boston Bay.

Descend beside the hull at the stern, swim along the upturned port side and deck to the bow at 8-11 m, look over the gorgonian-covered structure, then ascend along the superstructure, which rises almost to the surface.

No regular operator; Port Lincoln locals and dive shop customers with boats.