Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)
Adelaide Metro, South Australia · near O'Sullivan Beach
| Depth | 25–30 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Deep/Advanced + experience |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Access | Boat (day trip) |
| Entry | Back roll or giant stride from private or charter boat |
| Current | Variable/Tidal |
| Visibility | 6-15 m |
| Water | summer 19-23 °C, winter 12-14 °C |
| Suit | 7 mm wetsuit with hood year-round; drysuit popular in winter (June-September) |
| Best season | Late summer to autumn (February-May) for the calmest mornings and best visibility; winter can be clear on easterly days |
| Bottom time | 25 min |
| Position | -35.11630, 138.41000 (approximate) |
| Permit | No permit required |
| Nearest chamber | Royal Adelaide Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Adelaide CBD); DAN emergency hotline 1800 088 200 |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)
Also known as Stanvac small barges
Two encrusted 1954 barges 33 m apart in 28-30 m, a rarely dived companion to the Saurian.
Near O'Sullivan Beach · Adelaide Metro, South Australia
- Depth
- 25–30 m
- Minimum level
- Deep/Advanced + experience
- Access
- Boat (day trip)
- Boat ride
- ~20 min
- Water
- 19-23 °C
- Visibility
- 6-15 m
Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)25–30 m · Deep/Advanced + experience
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, December.
Late summer to autumn (February-May) for the calmest mornings and best visibility; winter can be clear on easterly days
- Best months
- Now (November)
Dive facts
- Depth
- 25–30 m
- Typical depth
- 27 m
- Certification
- Deep/Advanced + experience
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Depth tier
- Advanced Open Water (18–30 m)
- Access
- Boat (day trip)
- Offshore
- 5 km
- Dive centre needed
- Yes – boat access only
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~20 min
- Current
- Variable/Tidal
- Visibility
- 6-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 19-23 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 12-14 °C
- Water
- Temperate
- Bottom time
- 25 min
- Dive traffic
- Rarely dived (private boat/club only)
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- No
Exposure suit
7 mm wetsuit with hood year-round; drysuit popular in winter (June-September)
Location
Port Stanvac offshore
-35.11630, 138.41000
Approximate position — not for navigation.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: marinelife.org.auMarine park & permits
No permit required
Nearest recompression chamber
Royal Adelaide Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Adelaide CBD); DAN emergency hotline 1800 088 200
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges) →
A day-by-day plan for Adelaide Metro with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges) is a wreck boat dive in Adelaide Metro, SA, 25–30 m, suited to Deep/Advanced + experience divers, variable/tidal current, about 20 minutes by boat.
Rated advanced because of depth beyond 18 m, tidal current that must be timed, boat traffic overhead, cold water.
Why dive here
- Two encrusted 1954 barges 33 m apart in 28-30 m, a rarely dived companion to the Saurian.
- Sunk in 1954 (Two barges, each approx. 22 x 15 m (71 x 49 ft)).
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
About Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)
The two smaller Stanvac barges are part of the same 1954 artificial reef as the Saurian but are far enough away to need their own dive. The Marine Life Network describes them as two barges of about 71 x 49 ft (roughly 22 x 15 m), lying 33 m apart about 100 m north-east of the Saurian, oriented north-east to south-west on a sandy bottom. Wikivoyage lists them separately as Stanvac Barge 1 and Stanvac Barge 2, and the Dive Shack notes that the barges are quite spread out and recommends multiple dives.
After 70 years on the seabed, the barges are heavily colonised by sponges, ascidians and other invertebrates and concentrate fish in large numbers. Old wives, pike, strongfish, gurnard, flathead, bullseyes, blue devils, morwong, perch and cuttlefish are all listed for the Stanvac barges, and hammerhead sharks have been seen at the surface on calm days. Because the two barges are only 33 m apart, a compact dive can take in both if conditions and gas allow, making this a slightly more efficient dive than the Saurian alone.
The same constraints apply: depth of 28-30 m, short no-decompression limits on air, and potential current. Nitrox and a shot line are strongly recommended. This site suits experienced Advanced or Deep divers who have already dived the Saurian and want to complete the set.
It is rarely visited, so fish are unwary and growth undisturbed. Nitrox makes a real difference to bottom time here, and a reel helps if you move between the two hulls.
Wreck details
Two barges, each approx. 22 x 15 m (71 x 49 ft) · Sunk 1954
Era: post-war. Oldest wrecks · Wartime wrecks · Scuttled warships
Other wrecks of the same era
- Stanvac Barges · Max 30 m · Adelaide Metro
- Eleni K Wreck · Max 13 m · Eyre Peninsula
- LVT-4A amphibious tank (Stockton Beach) · Max 33 m · Newcastle & Lake Macquarie
- Olive Cam · Max 9 m · Eden & Green Cape
- Bunyip · Max 58 m · Port Phillip Heads
- SS Goolgwai wreck (Long Bay) · Max 10 m · Sydney South & Botany Bay
Getting there & entry
The two smaller barges of the 1954 Stanvac artificial reef, each about 22 x 15 m, lying 33 m apart about 100 m north-east of the Saurian in 28-30 m.
Boat access only. Launch at O'Sullivan Beach boat ramp and run north-west about 20 minutes to the Stanvac barges, about 5 km west of Port Stanvac. The two smaller barges lie about 100 m north-east of the large Saurian; use a separate GPS mark and shot line rather than swimming from the Saurian.
No moorings – anchor in sand and keep a boat attendant with a dive flag.
Entry: Back roll or giant stride from private or charter boat
Facilities: O'Sullivan Beach boat ramp.
Weather, swell & tides
An offshore gulf site: dive only in light winds, ideally easterlies, early in the day before the south-westerly sea breeze. Westerly and south-westerly winds make it rough. Tidal currents can be noticeable at depth on spring tides; neap dodge tides are best.
Visibility is often better than inshore. Being further offshore, check the forecast for the whole morning before setting out.
Best season: Late summer to autumn (February-May) for the calmest mornings and best visibility; winter can be clear on easterly days
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges) doesn't.
- Port Noarlunga Reef & Jetty · 6 km · Max 20 m
- Port Noarlunga Reef Underwater Trail · 6 km · Max 20 m
- Port Noarlunga Southern Reef · 6 km · Max 8 m
- Star of Greece Wreck · 16 km · Max 6 m
How the dive is usually run
Shot one barge, descend to 27-28 m, circle it, and if gas and no-deco time allow, swim the 33 m to the second barge on a compass bearing before returning to the shot for the ascent.
Marine life
- Old wives
- pike
- strongfish
- gurnard
- flathead
- bullseyes
- blue devilfish →
- morwong
- perch
- cuttlefish →
- hammerhead sharks (occasional) →
- sponges
- ascidians
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Beyond 18 m an Advanced certification (which includes a deep dive to 30 m) is the accepted minimum. Anything past 25 m is a deep dive in practice.
At more than 25 m this counts as a deep dive: watch no-decompression limits and gas.
Courses that help here
- Enriched Air Nitrox – Longer no-decompression time at 25 m and deeper.
- Drysuit Diver – Cold water; locals dive dry for much of the year.
- Underwater Navigation – Navigation is part of the dive plan.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Depth (28-30 m) – short no-deco limits; do not attempt to swim from the Saurian; tidal current; offshore boat site; boat traffic.
Technical notes
EANx 28-30 recommended; shot line for descent/ascent.
Dive centres that go here
No regular charter; occasional club dives and private boats from O'Sullivan Beach.
Operators recorded for Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)
Adelaide Scuba
ListedGlenelg North · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide business providing training, equipment and local diving support, located near Glenelg.
adelaidescuba.com.au · (08) 8294 7744
Underwater Sports
ListedHolden Hill · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide equipment and service business. Retail range and servicing capability require verification.
underwatersports.com.au · (08) 8263 3337
The Dive Shack
ListedGlenelg · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide business combining retail, servicing and training for South Australian divers.
thediveshack.com.au
Other dive centres in Adelaide Metro
Diving Adelaide
ListedMarleston · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide training and guided diving operation serving local sites and organised trips.
divingadelaide.com.au · (08) 8122 5003
Divers Delight
ListedStepney · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide dive business. Retail range, servicing and training availability require verification.
diversdelight.com.au · (08) 8363 7518
Adelaide Technical Diving
ListedPark Holme · Adelaide Metro · SA
An Adelaide operation specialising in technical diving training, relevant to divers preparing for deep, decompression or cave diving in South Australia.
Flinders University Underwater Club
Named by sitesBedford Park · Adelaide Metro · SA
Club, not a shop; open to non-students.
fuuc.com.au
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views
Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges): frequently asked questions
How deep is Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges) reaches a maximum depth of 30 m, with the shallowest part at about 25 m; most of the dive is spent around 27 m.
What certification do I need to dive Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Deep/Advanced + experience is the recommended minimum. At more than 25 m this counts as a deep dive: watch no-decompression limits and gas. Rated advanced because of depth beyond 18 m, tidal current that must be timed, boat traffic overhead, cold water.
Can I shore dive Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
No, it is reached by boat (about 20 minutes). A dive centre is required: boat access only.
When is the best time to dive Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Late summer to autumn (February-May) for the calmest mornings and best visibility; winter can be clear on easterly days.
What marine life will I see at Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Regularly recorded: Old wives, pike, strongfish, gurnard, flathead, bullseyes, blue devilfish, morwong, perch, cuttlefish, hammerhead sharks (occasional), sponges and more.
What wetsuit do I need at Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
7 mm wetsuit with hood year-round; drysuit popular in winter (June-September).
How cold is the water at Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Typically 19-23 °C in summer and 12-14 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Depth (28-30 m) – short no-deco limits; do not attempt to swim from the Saurian; tidal current; offshore boat site; boat traffic. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Stanvac Barges 1 & 2 (small barges)?
Royal Adelaide Hospital Hyperbaric Medicine Unit (Adelaide CBD); DAN emergency hotline 1800 088 200. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Adelaide Metro
Adelaide's coast has more than 40 dive sites in 30 minutes of the city: the Glenelg Dredge and the Barge off Glenelg, the reef and snorkel trail at Port Noarlunga, the Hallett Cove and Seacliff reefs, the ships' graveyard at Garden Island and the Port River dolphins. Most are shore or short-boat dives in 5–20 m.
Getting there: Shore dives have suburban car parks; charters from Glenelg, North Haven and O'Sullivan Beach run the wrecks and the Hobart.
Sources
- marinelife.org.au/?page_id=128
- en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Diving_in_South_Australia
- thediveshack.com.au/dive-sites/local-dive-sites-adelaide-metropolitan
- seawolves.org.au/adelaide-metro-dive-sites
Data confidence: Medium · Being verified: Wikivoyage longitude for Barge 1 appears mistyped (138°34.637); Barge 2 at 35°06.979 S, 138°24.597 E used approximately.. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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