The James Service was a 455-ton, 46 m three-masted iron barque, built in Glasgow in 1869. In July 1878 she was sailing from Calcutta to Melbourne with castor oil, bales of sacks and jute, and ten passengers when she met a north-west gale off the WA coast. On 21 July she was seen with only two masts standing, and the next day she was found foundered on the Murray Reefs. Everyone on board died, and bodies washed ashore along the coast over the following weeks.

The wreck lies on the southernmost of the Murray Reefs before Mandurah, in 3–9 m. The Marine Life Network describes a debris field of about 55 m by 12 m running west to east, and it is more intact than most wrecks in the area. The bow lies on its starboard side with frames visible, midships is heavily covered in kelp, and the stern, extending about 50 m east, is the most intact section.

The Murray Reefs are a ribbon of limestone reef covered in Ecklonia kelp, running from Mandurah to Warnbro Sound. Overhangs and crevices hold sea fans, buffalo bream, sweep, wrasse and western rock lobster, and the reef sees little diver traffic.

The site suits Open Water divers who want a genuine historic wreck close to Mandurah. It is exposed, so pick a calm day, and it is protected as a historic shipwreck.

Mandurah has few dive operators, so most visits are by private boat. A sounder helps to confirm the wreck and the sand patches on the eastern side before anchoring, and it is worth planning the dive for the morning to avoid the strong sea breeze on the run home.

Launch at the Mary Street Lagoon ramp on the western side of the estuary in Mandurah, or at Dolphin Marina on the eastern side, and exit through the Mandurah entrance channel. Run about 4.6 nautical miles north-west to Murray Reef; the bow lies at S 32°27.373' E 115°39.702'. Watch the swell before anchoring, as moderate swell can break over the site.

The eastern side of the reef is more sheltered.

Best with winds under 15 knots and swell under 1 m. The site lies on an exposed reef where moderate swell creates breaking waves, so check the pattern of breaking water before anchoring. The eastern side is sheltered from south-westerlies.

Mandurah's afternoon sea breeze is strong in summer, so dive early. Estuary outflow on the ebb tide can reduce visibility near the entrance.

Anchor east of the reef, descend near the bow (lying on its starboard side) and follow the wreckage about 50 m east to the more intact stern in about 3–5 m. Return through the kelp-covered midships.

No regular operator; occasional club and private-boat dives out of Mandurah.