The MV Fairwind is one of the more remarkable finds in Australian technical wreck diving: a 120-foot (37 m), 250-ton motor lighter built for the Australian Army in 1946, later loaned to the Department of External Affairs for fisheries survey work in Papua New Guinea. On 23 June 1950, while running from Port Moresby to Sydney, she was caught in a cyclone off the NSW mid-north coast; her final radio message reported she was seeking shelter behind North Solitary Island, short of fuel, and would try to make Coffs Harbour. She was never heard from again, and all 17 crew — including 12 Papuan crewmen — were lost.

The wreck went unfound for nearly sixty years until a group of amateur technical divers located her off South West Rocks in August 2009, sitting upright on the bottom in 87 metres with her forward and aft king posts still projecting 15 metres off the seabed. The wreck is described as mostly intact, an unusual state for a vessel this old at this depth, with a recognisable bow, a massive rudder and twin propellers at the stern and a collapsed superstructure and bridge area amidships that has spilled artefacts including cooking equipment and old batteries onto the surrounding wreckage. A large open section in the central hold leads to a passageway that has been penetrated by experienced technical divers, though it is tight, silty and considered genuinely dangerous rather than a casual swim-through.

The site carries obvious historical weight as a war-era loss with a confirmed death toll, and its rediscovery is a significant piece of local diving history for South West Rocks. Practically, it is one of the most demanding wreck dives on the NSW coast: unpredictable current of three to four knots, depths well into decompression territory, entangling fishing traces on the structure, and the need for meticulous planning make it suitable only for well-equipped technical divers diving with an experienced local operator who knows the wreck's exact position and current behaviour.

Reached only by dedicated technical charter from South West Rocks (Fish Rock Dive Centre runs occasional trips as 'Wreck MV Fairwind' for suitably qualified divers). Given the 87 m depth and offshore position, trips are infrequent, weather-dependent and require advance booking with a trimix-capable operator; there is no walk-up option. Divers travel out from the South West Rocks boat ramp on a purpose-fitted technical vessel carrying support divers, spare gas and a shot line accurately placed on the wreck via GPS.

A deep offshore wreck with no shelter — trips run only in a narrow window of flat seas and light wind, since the surface support and prolonged decompression hang are unworkable in any swell. Current at depth can run 3-4 knots and is unpredictable, a major factor in dive planning. Visibility is generally moderate to good but affected by regional runoff and plankton blooms.

Given the depth this is essentially a cold, dark, current-exposed technical dive regardless of season.

Descend the shot line directly onto the wreck's highest structure, orient off the intact bow and massive rudder/twin props at the stern, and use the collapsed midships/bridge area as the main working zone given the tight, silty conditions inside. Plan a short bottom time (15-25 minutes) against a long staged decompression using multiple gases, with a drifting or fixed deco station and dedicated surface support for the hang.

Trimix required; typical plans run 15-25 minutes bottom time against long staged decompression on 50% and 100% O2. Twin cylinders or CCR with bailout, reel/line for any penetration, DSMB mandatory, drifting deco station standard. Loss of life is a real risk here — this is not a dive for casual technical certification alone.

Fish Rock Dive Centre (South West Rocks) offers occasional guided technical charters to the wreck for qualified trimix/technical divers; otherwise private technical dive clubs only. Not a recreational-schedule site.