Tipara Reef is a shallow offshore reef about 14 km out from Moonta, so close to the surface that some rock patches are exposed at low tide. It was a serious hazard to shipping bound for the copper ports of Wallaroo and Moonta, and a lightship and later, in 1877, a lighthouse were placed on it. The light has since been dismantled, and its remains serve as a cormorant roost.

The Marine Life Society describes a reef lying just 1 m below the surface with edges at 8-9 m. The ocean side has abundant trevally, old wives, sweep, eagle rays, blue devils and mullet, with sponges and algae on the rock. The reef's best-known feature is the wreck of the San Miguel, an iron barque of 535 tons that was heading to Wallaroo in 1865 to load ore.

Her captain mistook the lightship marking the centre of the reef for its southern boundary and ran onto it; she broke up after a seven-day storm. Her cargo – 959 bags of copper, stores, bricks, hay and mining materials – was lost. The Society calls the site a time capsule of the mining era: cabin fittings and bottles are strewn around the wreckage in 2-5 m, about 400 m south-west of the old light.

Tipara is rarely dived because it requires a boat, calm weather and local knowledge. For divers interested in the Copper Coast's mining history, the San Miguel is a fascinating site. Everything on it is protected – look and photograph, but never remove artefacts.

Tipara Reef lies about 14 km west of Moonta in Spencer Gulf. The Marine Life Society notes boats launch from Port Victoria, though Port Hughes and Moonta Bay ramps are closer for small boats (roughly 20-30 minutes). The reef is marked by the remains of an 1877 lighthouse, now a cormorant roost; the San Miguel lies about 400 m south-west of it.

The reef top is barely submerged and some rocks are exposed at low tide – approach with care.

Tipara Reef is out in open Spencer Gulf, exposed to wind from all directions. The Marine Life Society notes that seas north of Wardang Island are generally shallow and that bad weather causes poor visibility. Choose light winds (ideally easterlies) and neap tides, as tidal flow runs across the reef.

The ocean side of the reef has the best fish life but is the most exposed.

Anchor off the south-western edge, locate the San Miguel wreckage about 400 m south-west of the old light, explore the scattered remains in 2-5 m, then swim along the reef edge on the ocean side at 8-9 m for fish.

No operator; occasionally dived by private boats and clubs with local knowledge.