The Star of Greece is South Australia's best-known shore-accessible historic wreck. She was an iron three-masted ship of 1,227 tons built in Belfast in 1868, about 70 m long, and was lying at anchor off Port Willunga laden with wheat when a winter gale drove her ashore on 13 July 1888. She broke up within sight of the beach, and 17 of her 27 crew died, partly because rescue was slow to arrive.

The victims are commemorated by a mass headstone in the Aldinga cemetery, and the wreck remains a significant local story. Today the remains lie about 200 m offshore in 2-6 m, beside Port Willunga Reef. Much of the ship is covered by sand, and how much can be seen changes with the weather: summer usually uncovers more, winter storms bury it.

When exposed, the wreck appears as a jumble of broken iron plate and frames, with a section of mast visible at low tide. Diving Adelaide notes that large schools of fish and many crabs cluster around the remains, making it easy to identify once found. The adjacent reef adds interest, with small fish, crabs and some uncommon nudibranchs.

Marine life on the wreck itself is modest, but the combination of history, shallow water and easy access makes this a classic snorkel and a relaxed dive for new divers. The Star of Greece is a protected historic shipwreck: look, photograph and leave everything in place. Pick a calm summer day at low tide, and finish with a visit to the Star of Greece cafe on the cliff above, which overlooks the site.

Port Willunga is about 45 minutes south of Adelaide. Follow Esplanade to the sandy car park at the bottom of Star of Greece Road (by the Star of Greece cafe); park as far toward the ocean as possible to shorten the walk. Walk down to the beach and either walk north along the sand for about 500 m and swim out 200 m, or enter directly and swim out to Port Willunga Reef, then follow its edge north for about 5 minutes at 4 m until the wreck appears.

At low tide a small portion of mast shows above the water. Boats can come from O'Sullivan Beach or launch at southern Aldinga Beach.

The wreck lies in only 2-6 m off a west-facing beach, so it is ruined by any westerly or south-westerly swell and needs low wind and low swell. Summer is best: sand movement is minimal and more of the wreck is uncovered, while winter storms often bury much of it. Low tide makes the mast visible and orientation easier.

Dive in the morning before the south-westerly sea breeze arrives.

Swim to Port Willunga Reef and follow its inside edge north at about 4 m for 5 minutes to the wreck. Explore the scattered plates and ribs, then return south along the reef's inside edge until you reach sand, and head east back to the beach.

Protected historic shipwreck.

Diving Adelaide – guided shore dives and snorkels; Adelaide Scuba, Underwater Sports and clubs – occasional shore dives; popular with independent snorkellers in summer.