The Uribes is one of only two Rottnest wrecks that the WA Museum recommends to snorkellers, and it is probably the easiest historic wreck in Western Australia to visit. She was a 37 m auxiliary schooner of about 118 tons, built in 1868 at Stockton-on-Tees in England, with a steel or iron hull by the time of her loss. In mid-1942 she was loading machinery and ammunition from the Oliver Hill gun battery - military stores and two motor vehicles according to the Museum - when her motors failed as she left Thomson Bay near Phillip Rock. Her anchors dragged and she drifted onto the shore at the base of the Natural Jetty, where she quickly sank and filled with sand.

The sand has preserved her: machinery and parts of the hull are still well defined in 2.5-4 m of water, just metres off the beach, and on a calm day the outline is visible from shore. Small reef fish, wrasse and juvenile bream use the wreck as shelter, and the adjoining limestone of the Natural Jetty adds reef life to the swim.

It is a perfect site for families, first-time snorkellers and anyone doing the Rottnest wreck trail by bike, and a gentle scuba dive for a check-out or a relaxed hour. Visibility is modest compared with the offshore sites because of the sand bottom and swimmers. Like all Rottnest wrecks it is protected; look but do not touch or remove anything. The wreck is also a popular night snorkel for island visitors staying in the settlement.

Catch the ferry from Fremantle or Perth to Thomson Bay. From the main settlement cycle or walk south-east along the bay (about 1.5 km) towards Phillip Point; the site is near Island Explorer bus Stop 4. The wreck lies a few metres off the beach at the base of the rocky Natural Jetty and is easily seen from shore on calm days.

Leave bikes at the track head, walk down to the sand and enter from the beach; snorkellers need only a few kicks. Scuba divers must bring cylinders from Perth as there are no fills on the island.

Usually protected from swell inside Thomson Bay, but the WA Museum warns it is only safe when wind and waves are not blowing onshore: strong northerly and north-easterly winds push chop onto this beach and reduce visibility. Best on calm summer mornings with south-easterly or southerly winds. Summer afternoons bring crowds of swimmers and boats.

Enter from the beach, fin a few metres to the wreck and circle it slowly at the surface or at 2-3 m, looking at the exposed machinery and hull frames; extend along the Natural Jetty rocks for reef fish before returning to the beach.

No operator needed; a self-guided snorkel on the Rottnest Wreck Trail. Rottnest snorkel tours and hire outlets (Pedal & Flipper) point visitors to it.