Van Bruggen's Dream was a 15 m, 18-ton steel yacht that local fishermen deliberately sank as an artificial reef near the Rick Mills reef in 2008; a video of the sinking circulated online. The Lee Point reefs are NT Fisheries artificial reefs in about 15 m on the open coast north-east of Darwin, built up since the 1990s from decommissioned plant, concrete culverts, shipping containers and old vessels, and expanded in 2011 with 600 six-metre concrete culverts laid in a 3.6 km pattern between the Rick Mills and Bottle Washer reefs. Local fishers and DSAC have added small scuttled boats. The reefs are primarily fishing structures, so expect boats on the marks and fishing tackle on the bottom, but they give divers structure, fish and shelter from the harbour's tidal race.

The yacht lies on its port side in about 14 m. It is a small, simple wreck, but it had already become home to many fish within a short time of sinking, and it now carries growth and resident cod and snapper. DSAC describes it as suitable for a second dive, with 15-20 minutes enough to explore it properly - the depth allows a leisurely look at the hull, deck and cockpit area. Because it sits close to the large Rick Mills reef, a dive can easily be extended onto the culverts, containers and plant equipment nearby. It suits newer divers and is a good introduction to the Lee Point reef system, which offers something different from the harbour's history-heavy wrecks: shallow, fish-focused structure diving on the open coast. Divers wanting more can continue along the culvert lines towards the other reefs if conditions and gas allow.

Boat only. The nearest launch is the Buffalo Creek boat ramp at Lee Point, at the end of Lee Point Road about 20 minutes' drive north of the CBD (trailer parking, but a tidal creek - check the tide for launching and retrieving). From there the reefs are a short run offshore; from Cullen Bay Marina allow roughly 30-45 minutes around East Point and along the Nightcliff-Casuarina coast.

NT Fisheries publishes GPS positions for each reef. The area is open to the north and north-west, so pick a calm dry-season morning and dive the neap high-water slack.

Tide is everything on the Darwin coast: the spring range is 7-8 m and tidal streams run hard through the harbour, so diving is generally only possible on neap tides (range under about 3-4 m), timed to the slack at high water when clearer ocean water sits over the site. Spring tides bring strong currents and silt-laden water with near-zero visibility. The dry season (May-October) gives the most consistent conditions; the Lee Point reefs are sheltered from the south-east trades by the land in the morning, but afternoon sea breezes and any north-westerly make the open coast rough.

In the wet season (November-April) run-off from the rivers and creeks drops visibility, afternoon storms build quickly, and the harbour is in cyclone season; box jellyfish are present October-May.

DSAC suggests it as a second dive: 15-20 minutes is enough to see the yacht. Descend beside the hull lying on its port side, lap it once looking at the deck and cockpit, then explore the surrounding Rick Mills reef structure before returning to the shot.

No regular dive charters; dived by Darwin Sub Aqua Club on neap-tide club days and by private boats. Local operators may run a trip on request.