South of Direction Island, in 3.8 m on a clean white-sand bottom, lies the backbone of an old wooden ship. The WA Museum's inspection report records six rows of concreted iron keel and keelson bolts running for 40 m across hard sand, the central pair rising about 30 cm and the flanking pairs about 10 cm, with traces of floor timbers, thin planking and buried frames. The length of the bolt run suggests a vessel of about 40 m between perpendiculars.

For many years divers took the structure to be the remains of an old jetty. Timber analysis found white oak and southern yellow pine, pointing to a North American-built ship, and the report names the American ship Gudden Barstow of New Bedford, wrecked at Cocos in 1839, as a prime candidate. Documentary records mention American whalers being dismantled at this anchorage, and the Clunies-Ross family salvaged almost everything of value from the wreck in the 19th century, leaving only the keel and keelson assembly, which was too robust to break up.

The site is stable and well protected by the eastern reef from the trades, although cyclones may periodically expose and rebury parts of it. As a dive it is modest – a line of concreted bolts on sand, with little structure for fish – but it is a rare, tangible trace of the whaling-era history of Cocos, which predates the Clunies-Ross settlement's copra industry and the cable station. The shallow, clear water makes it an easy snorkel for visitors with a boat, and it is interesting to combine with the Phaeton and the Catalina for a heritage tour of Port Refuge.

The site is protected underwater cultural heritage.

Fly to West Island on the twice-weekly Virgin Australia service from Perth (usually routed via Christmas Island; allow 7–10 days on the islands to absorb weather and flight delays). Cocos Dive collects divers from West Island accommodation in the morning (pickup around 8 am, departure about 9 am) and runs its boats from West Island into the lagoon. The wreck lies in 3.8 m on clean sand about 0.5 nautical mile south of Direction Island, in the north-east corner of the lagoon.

It is not marked and is visited only on request with a local skipper or Cocos Dive. It is not reachable from the Direction Island ferry landing without a boat.

Cocos has two seasons. The south-east trades blow steadily from roughly April/May to October, often 15–25 knots, which chops up the lagoon and pushes swell onto the eastern and southern outer reefs; divers are then kept to sheltered sites. The doldrum season (November to March/April) brings lighter, variable winds, flatter seas and the widest choice of outer-reef sites, and is the best time to dive, though it is also the tropical cyclone season and squalls pass through.

Port Refuge, the north-western corner of the lagoon between Horsburgh and Direction Islands, is shallow and protected from ocean swell by the reef, but in strong trades it becomes choppy and the fine sand stirs up, lowering visibility. Dive or snorkel on calm days and around high tide on the incoming flow for the clearest water; tidal streams through the northern passages can be noticeable at mid-tide. The site sits in the lee of the eastern reef and is protected from the prevailing trades.

Snorkel or dive along the 40 m run of concreted keel and keelson bolts, starting at one end and swimming its length. There is little relief, so the whole site can be seen in a short dive; spend the rest of the time on the surrounding sand looking for rays and gobies.

No regular operator. Cocos Dive or a local lagoon skipper (Cocos Blue Charters, Cocosday Tours) may visit on request.