The Stragglers Dredge was one of the machines that built Fremantle Harbour. The iron bucket dredge, with a steam-driven bucket conveyor, began work in the 1890s dredging the channel for C. Y. O'Connor's harbour project and later worked upstream in the Swan River. It was decommissioned in the 1930s, stripped and scuttled west of Stragglers Rocks, where it was later identified by maritime archaeologist Graeme Henderson.

The wreck lies in 12–14 m on sand beside reef. It was heavily stripped before scuttling, and no machinery remains. What is left is the iron hull outline, about 40 m long, with the stern facing east. The best wreckage is along the southern edge, and the rudder post and steering quadrant are still recognisable. About half the site is covered in kelp. Nearby reef has caves and ledges that add interest to the dive.

The steel supports sponges and ascidians, and the reef and wreck hold buffalo bream, bullseyes, old wives, wrasse, sweep and western rock lobster, with the chance of wobbegongs under the ledges.

The Stragglers area is the closest offshore reef to the Fremantle ramps, so the dredge is often dived as a second dive or when Rottnest is too rough. It suits Open Water divers comfortable with boat diving and moderate depth.

There is some confusion between this dredge and a second, deeper one further west (the Stragglers Unidentified Dredge in 19 m), which the Marine Life Network identifies as the Fremantle, built in 1894 and scuttled in 1936. Divers should use GPS positions to be sure which wreck they are on.

Launch at Woodman Point (a run of about 6 nautical miles), Leeuwin Boat Ramp in East Fremantle or the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour ramps. Stragglers Rocks are the visible rocks roughly 4–6 nautical miles west of the Fremantle Harbour entrance, south-east of Rottnest's Bickley Point, on the edge of the Five Fathom Bank; the Mewstones lie to their south. The dredge lies at S 32°03.818' E 115°37.273', west of the rocks.

Drop a shot line on sand beside the wreck rather than anchoring into it. Allow 20–25 minutes from Woodman Point or Leeuwin in a trailer boat, crossing Gage Roads, where ships anchor.

The Stragglers sit on the edge of Five Fathom Bank between Fremantle and Rottnest and are partly sheltered by Rottnest from the biggest south-westerly swell, but the site is open water. Dive in swell under about 1.5 m and winds under 15 knots, in the morning before the summer sea breeze, which makes Gage Roads choppy by early afternoon. North-westerly winds before winter fronts are the worst direction.

Swan River outflow can reduce visibility after heavy rain.

Descend the shot to the sand at 12–14 m beside the wreck. Follow the hull along its southern edge, where the best wreckage is, to the rudder post and steering quadrant at the stern (facing east), then cross to the caves and ledges on the reef nearby before returning to the shot.

Visited occasionally by Fremantle-based operators and clubs (UWA Underwater Club), often on the way to or from Rottnest; otherwise private boats.