The FV Linda Jane is a trawler wreck lying in about 35 m in the Keppel Bay area, and one of two little-known fishing-boat wrecks that local divers visit when conditions allow. Its position has never been published and is known only to locals, which has helped preserve its fish life. Like many trawler wrecks on the Queensland coast, the Linda Jane has become a fish magnet on an otherwise featureless seabed.

Local descriptions list groper, large red emperor and large red jewfish living around the hull, together with coral trout, lionfish, turtles, sea snakes and eagle rays. Visibility is about 20 m on a good day, but the site is strongly affected by tide and should be dived at slack water. Details of the vessel itself, including its size, construction and the circumstances of its loss, are not documented in accessible sources, so divers should treat each visit as exploratory and avoid penetration.

At 35 m, bottom time on air is short and nitrogen narcosis is a factor; a slow, deliberate lap of the wreck is the usual plan. The Linda Jane suits experienced deep divers with their own boat or a local contact, and is worth combining with the Miss Shoalhaven, about 6 nautical miles away, if the tide window allows. It is not part of the regular Keppel dive operator's schedule.

For most visitors, the value of these two wrecks lies in the large fish they attract rather than in the structures themselves, which are small and gradually breaking down.

Launch from Rosslyn Bay Harbour (Keppel Bay Marina, 7 km south of Yeppoon; public boat ramp with trailer parking) or from Great Keppel Island. The Linda Jane's position is not published and is known only to local divers and fishing skippers, so a visit requires a private boat and local knowledge; the Miss Shoalhaven lies about 6 nautical miles away and the two are sometimes dived on the same day. Travel time depends on the mark but is likely 30-60 minutes from Rosslyn Bay.

Keppel Bay is exposed to the prevailing south-east trades (strongest April-September) and to summer northerlies. The trawler wrecks lie in open water in Keppel Bay and are strongly tide-affected: dive only at slack water (usually around high-water slack for the best visibility) on neap tides, in winds under about 15 knots. Visibility averages around 15-20 m on good days but can fall below 5 m after strong winds or Fitzroy River floods.

Best July-October.

Shot the wreck, descend the line at slack water and make a single lap of the hull at 30-35 m, looking into openings from outside only. Keep within no-decompression limits (typically 12-15 minutes at 33 m on air), then return to the line and ascend slowly with a safety stop of at least 3-5 minutes.

Depth 33-35 m sits at the recreational limit: plan with a dive computer, use nitrox (EAN28 or lower, check MOD) only if trained, and keep bottom time short to avoid decompression. Carry a reel or SMB and descend and ascend on a shot or anchor line; there is no mooring. Positions are not published and are known to local divers and skippers only.

No regular operator – private boat with local knowledge only; Keppel Dive & Water Sports may be able to advise.