The Moorara is the youngest wreck on the Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail and a rare survivor of the Murray River trade. She was built in 1909 as a Murray River barge, about 34 m long, part of the fleet that carried wool and supplies along the river system. After the river trade declined she was converted into a small three-masted coastal freighter with engines, and for years she supplied the Aboriginal settlement on Wardang Island from Port Victoria and Point Pearce.

On 25 August 1975 a sudden storm struck from the south-west and she sank on the sandy bottom between Wardang Island and Point Pearce. The Marine Life Society describes her as the most complete Murray River barge wreck in the state. She lies in only 3-4 m, and her wooden hull, two engines, a hatch and the collapsed deckhouse are still recognisable.

Timber wrecks this intact are uncommon, and the Moorara gives divers a close look at the construction of the flat-bottomed river craft that opened up inland South Australia. Fish life is excellent for such a shallow site. The Society lists snapper, King George whiting, snook, garfish, dusky morwong, razorfish, silver drummer, blue swimmer crabs, cuttlefish, old wives and tommy ruff, and schools often shelter under the overhanging timbers.

Being in the channel on the lee side of the island, the Moorara is more sheltered from south-westerly swell than the southern and western wrecks, so it is often diveable when they are not. Its depth makes it perfect for snorkellers, beginners and long, relaxed photography dives, and it combines naturally with the nearby Songvaar.

From Adelaide drive about 190 km (2 hours 15 minutes) via Port Wakefield and Maitland to Port Victoria. Launch at the Port Victoria boat ramp beside the jetty and run west to Wardang Island – the island's nearest shore is about 8 km away and the southern wreck sites about 11 km (20-30 minutes in a small boat). The Port Victoria Maritime Museum and the Department for Environment and Water trail booklet give site details and coordinates.

Wardang Island is Aboriginal land held by the Point Pearce (Narungga) community: diving the wrecks from a boat is fine, but landing on the island requires permission. The Moorara lies in the relatively sheltered channel between the north-eastern side of Wardang Island and Point Pearce, about 8 km from the ramp (15-20 minutes). It is close to the Songvaar, so the two are often combined.

Wardang Island lies 8-11 km off Port Victoria in Spencer Gulf. Its western and southern shores – Aagot, Investigator, Notre Dame d'Arvor, Monarch, Australian and MacIntyre – face the open gulf and are subject to south-westerly swell, surge and wind-driven sand movement, so they need low swell and light winds, ideally easterlies. The eastern and northern sites (Songvaar, Moorara) are more sheltered from the prevailing south-westerlies but exposed to northerly and easterly chop.

The 20-30 minute boat run from Port Victoria becomes uncomfortable above about 15 knots. Summer and autumn mornings are the usual window; winter fronts bring days of south-westerly weather.

Drop in beside the hull, swim the length of the wooden bottom past the two engines, the hatch and the collapsed deckhouse, then circle back along the other side looking for fish sheltering beneath the timbers.

No resident operator; included in Adelaide shop and club Wardang weekends, often as a second dive after the Songvaar; private boats from Port Victoria.