The Eddystone, an 85 m, 2,040-ton steam freighter, ran aground on 6 September 1894 on a shoal while being guided into the Balla Balla anchorage by the Beagle, after confusion over signals between the two vessels.

The wreck has broken down heavily, but its major components remain in 4–8 m: the huge triple-expansion engine, large boilers, the stern and propeller, and a propeller shaft more than a foot in diameter with a dramatic curve. The stern and engine lie almost 90 degrees apart, testament to the tidal forces that tore the ship apart. Giant trevally and barracuda patrol the site. Anchoring is poor and the currents are powerful.

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 8 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 water only, with a live boat running: descend at the triple-expansion engine, view the boilers, then the stern and propeller set almost 90 degrees to the engine, and the curved propeller shaft.

No regular operator – private expeditions only.