The Malabar is one of Sydney's best shallow wreck dives and the ship gave its name to the suburb. Built by Barclay, Curle and Company of Glasgow and launched on 9 July 1925 for Burns, Philp and Company, she was a 107 m (350 ft), 4,512-ton motorship with a Burmeister and Wain diesel, capable of 13 knots, carrying 156 passengers and cargo in five holds including refrigerated space. On 2 April 1931, en route from Melbourne via Sydney to Singapore under Captain George Leslie, she ran onto the rocks at the northern side of Long Bay in dense fog at about 6.50 am.

All 109 crew and 28 passengers were taken off safely – only the ship's cat was lost – but the ship flooded aft and broke up in heavy seas the same day. The suburb of Long Bay was renamed Malabar in her memory. For decades the wreck lay beside Sydney's main sewage outfall and was rarely dived, but when the outfall was moved offshore in 1990 the water cleared and the Malabar became a popular shore dive.

Today the hull, decks and superstructure are a jumble of rusted, twisted plate in 9–10 m, but many large pieces are recognisable. The highlight is the massive diesel engine lying on its side, which divers can swim through carefully, with pistons, conrods and crankshaft visible; sections of driveshaft joined by huge bolts lead to the propeller, which has one blade missing, and the rudder. Around the site are anchors, capstans, bollards, davits, lifeboat gear, mast supports and large glass panels from a skylight.

The July 2001 storms stripped growth from the ironwork, exposed copper piping and cracked the engine housing, and kelp now covers parts of the site and can hide smaller items. Fish life is prolific: big schools of luderick (blackfish) and bream shelter inside the engine, with yellowtail, silver sweep and blue gropers around the wreckage. With visibility of 15 m common in westerly weather and plenty of no-decompression time, it suits Open Water divers who can handle a long walk and a rock-platform entry, and it is a favourite for wreck photography.

From Anzac Parade take Beauchamp Road east into Fishermans Road, Malabar, and drive to the far end where there is parking. Gear up at the car and walk out along the rock platform to the entry point – a long, hot walk in a wetsuit, so go early and in cool weather. Enter where the platform drops off, snorkel about 30 m to the south-east and descend onto the wreckage in 9–10 m.

Boat divers use the transit of the spire of St Andrew's Catholic Church, Malabar, over the edge of the rock platform with the large chimney on the headland; McFadyen's GPS is 33° 58.1218' S 151° 15.7855' E. Botany Bay and Long Bay ramps are 10–15 minutes away.

Long Bay opens to the east, so north-east through south-east swell over about 1 m creates surge across the shallow wreck and makes the rock-platform entry and exit hazardous. Westerly winds in autumn and winter give flat water and the best visibility, commonly 15 m. After heavy rain, stormwater drains into the bay and the site is murky for days.

The July 2001 storm showed how violent winter east-coast lows can be here – it stripped growth and cracked the engine housing – so check the swell forecast carefully. Summer north-east sea breezes chop the bay by afternoon.

Descend after the 30 m snorkel onto the engine, which lies on its side and can be swum through carefully, then follow the driveshaft sections to the propeller (one blade missing) and rudder. Loop back past the capstans, bollards, davits and skylight glass to the anchors, and return north-west to the platform at 5 m. Plenty of no-deco time for a long, slow exploration.

Sydney Dive Academy (Matraville) and Abyss Scuba Diving run occasional guided shore dives; Pro Dive Coogee's boat visits in westerly weather; St George Scuba Club dives it regularly.