The TSS Nerong was a 219-ton, 36.6 m twin-screw coastal steamer that foundered in a strong gale on 19 September 1917 roughly 5 km east of Norah Head, becoming one of a string of small coastal steamers lost on this exposed stretch of the NSW coast during the era before reliable weather forecasting. Lying today in 43-45 m, she sits well beyond recreational no-decompression limits, and diving her properly means planning a genuine technical dive with appropriate gas and staged decompression rather than a quick recreational look.As with most of the deep wrecks scattered off the Central Coast, the Nerong cannot be located visually from the surface and requires an accurate GPS mark and a shot or anchor line dropped directly onto the structure, since it will not hold in the surrounding sand. Once on the wreck, divers can expect the machinery and lower hull sections of a compact twin-screw steamer, likely encrusted with sponge and gorgonian growth after over a century underwater, with resident fish sheltering in and around the remaining structure.

Because visits are infrequent and mostly limited to technical club divers with local knowledge of the mark, first-hand documentation of the wreck's current condition is thinner than for the more actively dived Central Coast wrecks like the Kiama or Galava — a site for a well-prepared technical team rather than a casual charter booking. As with the region's other deep steamer losses, she is a reminder of how exposed this coast was to sudden weather before reliable forecasting, and how many small working vessels never made it to the safety of Broken Bay or Newcastle Harbour once a gale set in.

Reached by boat from Norah Head or Terrigal Haven, running roughly 5 km east of Norah Head to the wreck's position; a shot line is dropped directly onto the structure as it cannot be seen from the surface.

These offshore sites need a settled weather window with under about 1.5 m swell and light winds, launched from either the rough Norah Head beach ramp or from Terrigal Haven depending on which operator is running. Visibility is generally best in autumn and early winter once the summer's plankton blooms have cleared and before the coldest, greenest winter water sets in, though the East Australian Current can bring clear, warm water south at almost any time of year. A recent blow or heavy rain (Hunter and Tuggerah Lakes runoff) reduces visibility for several days.

At this depth a stable, well-forecast weather window matters more than at the shallower reefs, since decompression obligations remove the option of a quick abort if conditions deteriorate mid-dive.

Descend the shot directly onto the hull at 43 m, make a focused circuit of the twin-screw machinery and hull remains within the planned bottom time, then return to the shot for staged decompression, ideally on a drifting station with backup gas.

Decompression dive at 43-45 m; typical plans use nitrox/trimix with appropriate deco gases; twin cylinders or CCR with bailout recommended; accurate GPS and a shot line essential as the wreck cannot be seen from the surface.

No standing recreational charter; dived by technical-minded Terrigal Underwater Group members and private technical divers on request, a handful of times a year.