The South Tomi has one of the best back-stories of any Australian dive wreck. In 2001 the Togo-flagged longliner was caught fishing illegally for Patagonian toothfish in Australia's sub-Antarctic waters near Heard Island, and fled. The Australian patrol vessel Southern Supporter, later joined by the navy and South African vessels, chased her for about 14 days and more than 6,000 km across the Southern Ocean – one of the longest pursuits in the Royal Australian Navy's history – before she was boarded some 300 nautical miles off South Africa. Her illegal catch was worth more than $1 million. The confiscated vessel was later handed to Geraldton and scuttled as a dive attraction in 2004.

The ship is about 57-60 m long and sits upright on sand in 25 m on a south-west to north-east axis, with the top of her structure at about 14 m. She was prepared for divers with open access panels on each level along her length, and the wheelhouse was removed so that divers can reach the engine room with natural light filtering in. Marine Life Network describes the steel as slowly being carpeted in invertebrate life, with abundant fish – schools of baitfish, yellowtail kingfish, samson fish, dhufish, buffalo bream and pink snapper, with turtles and rays passing by.

The wreck's main limitations are Geraldton's wind and the variable visibility, which ranges from 2 to 10 m. There is no longer a mooring, so dives must be self-organised or arranged through the local dive shop, which has not always had a boat available. For Advanced Open Water divers who get a calm morning, it is a substantial, intact steel wreck with good penetration options and a story worth telling.

Geraldton is about 420 km (4.5 hours) north of Perth via the Brand Highway, with daily flights. Boats launch from the Batavia Coast Marina or the Geraldton boat harbour ramps (Fishing Boat Harbour, off Marine Terrace/Connell Road). The South Tomi lies about 3 nautical miles (15-20 minutes) from the Batavia Coast Marina at S 28° 43.862', E 114° 33.333'.

The site is no longer buoyed or moored since the Geraldton Artificial Reef Committee disbanded, so private boats must find it by GPS and sounder and anchor carefully into the sand beside the wreck (not into the hull), or drop divers with a live boat. Batavia Coast Dive & Watersports can advise on or arrange trips.

Geraldton is one of the windiest towns in Australia: a strong southerly sea breeze blows most afternoons from October to April, often 20-30 knots, and winter brings north-westerly fronts. Marine Life Network estimates Point Moore is diveable only about 60 days a year, with the best windows in March-May and September-November, typically on early mornings or on rare days of easterly land breeze. divingwawrecks gives swell under 1.5 m as diveable and visibility of 2-10 m, while Marine Life Network notes the offshore site can still be reached in weather that rules out the shore sites. The afternoon southerly makes the anchorage uncomfortable and the run home wet.

Descend the anchor line to the upper structure at 14 m, work along the upright hull at deck level (18-20 m), peering into the open access panels, and visit the stern and propeller at 25 m. Wreck-trained divers can enter the engine room through the removed wheelhouse area, where natural light penetrates. Ascend along the superstructure for the safety stop.

Engine room penetration only with wreck training and a guideline; nitrox useful for longer dives.

Batavia Coast Dive & Watersports (148 Chapman Road, Geraldton; formerly Batavia Coast Dive Academy) – Geraldton's PADI dive centre; air fills, hire, courses and local boat/shore dives on demand – arranges South Tomi dives when boats and weather are available; otherwise private boats. Local dive boat availability has been limited in recent years.