Dive slate · divesites.com.au · printed 7 Nov 2026
Zvir
Ningaloo – Coral Bay, Western Australia · near Coral Bay
| Depth | 4–10 m |
|---|---|
| Minimum level | Open Water |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Access | Boat |
| Entry | Backward roll from private boat; anchor on sand patches |
| Current | Moderate |
| Visibility | 5-15 m |
| Water | summer 25-28 °C, winter 20-23 °C |
| Suit | 3 mm full suit; 5 mm in winter |
| Best season | April–October on glassy days |
| Bottom time | 50 min |
| Position | -22.60820, 113.62770 (GPS) |
| Permit | Historic shipwreck (protected – no disturbance or removal); Ningaloo Marine Park (check sanctuary zones) |
| Nearest chamber | Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – RFDS evacuation via Exmouth/Learmonth or Carnarvon; very remote |
| Emergency | 000 · DAN Asia-Pacific diving emergency 1800 088 200 |
Zvir
Also known as SS Zvir wreck
An upright propeller and rudder at the end of a 120 m wreck trail.
Near Coral Bay · Ningaloo – Coral Bay, Western Australia
- Depth
- 4–10 m
- Minimum level
- Open Water
- Access
- Boat
- Boat ride
- ~30 min
- Water
- 25-28 °C
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
Zvir4–10 m · Open Water
Dive factsDepths, conditions, location & safety
Season
Off-peak nowBest months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
April–October on glassy days
- Best months
- Now (November)
- Stinger suit Nov–May
Dive facts
- Depth
- 4–10 m
- Typical depth
- 8 m
- Certification
- Open Water
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Depth tier
- Easy (0–10 m)
- Access
- Boat
- Offshore
- 3 km
- Dive centre needed
- No – independently diveable
- Shore / independent
- No
- Boat ride
- ~30 min
- Current
- Moderate
- Visibility
- 5-15 m
- Water temp (summer)
- 25-28 °C
- Water temp (winter)
- 20-23 °C
- Water
- Tropical
- Bottom time
- 50 min
- Dive traffic
- Remote/expedition only
- Night dive
- No
- Snorkel friendly
- Partial
Exposure suit
3 mm full suit; 5 mm in winter
Location
Point Cloates / Ningaloo Station
-22.60820, 113.62770
Published GPS position.
Open in Google MapsPrimary source: divingwawrecks.comMarine park & permits
Historic shipwreck (protected – no disturbance or removal); Ningaloo Marine Park (check sanctuary zones)
Nearest recompression chamber
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – RFDS evacuation via Exmouth/Learmonth or Carnarvon; very remote
Diving emergency: call 000, then DAN AP 1800 088 200.
Trip planner
Build a trip around Zvir →
A day-by-day plan for Ningaloo – Coral Bay with this site locked in.
This guide is a planning aid. Conditions change daily — confirm with a local dive centre and dive within your training. Data & safety notes.
Dive profile
How this site rates
Scores are computed from the recorded data, not opinions. How?
At a glance
Zvir is a wreck boat dive in Ningaloo – Coral Bay, WA, 4–10 m, suited to Open Water divers, moderate current, about 30 minutes by boat.
Rated advanced because of surge on the entry or in the shallows.
Why dive here
- An upright propeller and rudder at the end of a 120 m wreck trail.
- Sunk in 1902 (Steel screw steamer/freighter, 100 m); protected as underwater cultural heritage, so look but do not touch.
- Rarely dived: expect to have the site to yourself, and plan your own logistics.
About Zvir
The Zvir is regarded as one of the cleanest and most impressive wreck sites on the West Australian coast. The steel screw steamer (recorded as 100 m and 2,100–3,353 tons) went aground on 27 November 1902 in Norwegian Bay while carrying sugar from Java to Adelaide.
The wreck site spans about 120 m in roughly 10 m of water. The bow is surrounded by coral; along the site lie deck plating and winches, a two-cylinder steam engine, three boilers and a spare propeller, then 40 m of propeller shaft leading to the still-upright rudder and four-bladed propeller at the stern — the site's most photogenic feature.
It lies within a sanctuary zone and needs swell under 1 m and 15+ m visibility for a good dive.
The Point Cloates coast: the stretch of Ningaloo between Coral Bay and Yardie Creek is a notorious ship trap where the reef lies close to the shipping route and an uncharted north-west current set vessels onto the reef. The WA wreck-diving guide divingwawrecks lists nine wrecks here, from the 1811 Rapid to the 1931 Chofuku Maru. All are remote, require a private boat, calm seas and self-sufficiency, and are protected historic sites — look, photograph and leave everything in place.
Planning notes: Open Water certification is recommended and the site is rated advanced. Expect to spend most of the dive around 8 m, with a maximum of about 10 m. Access is by boat only, and site selection depends on wind, swell and tide on the day. Best season: April–October on glassy days. Traffic: remote/expedition only.
Wreck details
Steel screw steamer/freighter, 100 m · Sunk 1902 · Protected historic shipwreck
Era: early 20th century. Oldest wrecks · Wartime wrecks · Scuttled warships
Other wrecks of the same era
- Camilla Hulk (Naval Base) · Max 3.5 m · Perth
- Gudrun Wreck (Cape Peron) · Max 6 m · Kalbarri & Shark Bay
- Highland Forest Wreck · Max 8 m · Perth
- Ville de Rouen Wreck · Max 9 m · Perth
- Katinka Wreck · Max 6 m · Margaret River & Augusta
- Omeo Wreck & Coogee Maritime Trail · Max 7 m · Perth
Getting there & entry
Wreck of a 100 m steel screw steamer in Norwegian Bay on Ningaloo Reef, in about 10 m within a sanctuary zone.
Point Cloates and Ningaloo Station lie on the coast between Coral Bay and Exmouth, reached by the Minilya–Exmouth Road and a long unsealed station track (4WD recommended; station permission and camping fees apply). There are no dive operators on this stretch. Boats are beach-launched at South Lefroy Bay or from Ningaloo Station with permission, or run 30+ nautical miles north from Coral Bay.
Wrecks lie on or behind the reef crest and are only reachable in very calm conditions.
Entry: Backward roll from private boat; anchor on sand patches
Facilities: None; remote station coast. Air in Coral Bay or Exmouth.
Weather, swell & tides
These wrecks lie on the exposed reef crest or just behind the outer breakers and are only diveable in swell under about 0.5–1.0 m, light winds and 10+ m visibility. Any south-westerly swell makes them dangerous. Morning calms are best before the sea breeze.
Cyclone season November–April. Visibility is typically 5–15 m, best on neap tides after several calm days. Tides are moderate (about 2 m) on this coast, but water draining off the reef flats creates currents near passages.
The area is extremely remote, with no mobile coverage in most places, so carry an EPIRB and let the station know your plans.
Best season: April–October on glassy days
If it's blown out
Sheltered or shore sites within 25 km that often work when Zvir doesn't.
- SS Fin · 4 km · Max 2 m
- Chofuku Maru · 11 km · Max 10 m
- Benan · 16 km · Max 9 m
- Rapid · 16 km · Max 5 m
How the dive is usually run
Start at the coral-covered bow and swim aft along the 120 m wreck site past deck plating, winches, the two-cylinder engine, three boilers and a spare propeller, then follow the 40 m shaft to the upright rudder and four-bladed propeller at the stern.
Marine life
- Reef fish
- coral on wreckage
- turtles →
- reef sharks →
Linked species have their own page listing every site where they are recorded. All marine life →
Training required
Shallow enough for snorkellers and for a first dive under supervision. Any certified diver can dive it.
Depth tiers: 0–10 m easy · to 18 m Open Water · 18–30 m Advanced (25 m+ is a deep dive) · 30–40 m Deep specialty · 40 m+ technical. All courses
Hazards & warnings
Swell and surge; remote; protected wreck; sanctuary zone.
Dive centres that go here
No regular operator – private boats only (beach launch at South Lefroy Bay or Ningaloo Station with permission, or from Coral Bay).
Operators recorded for Zvir
Other dive centres in Ningaloo – Coral Bay
Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo
ListedExmouth · Ningaloo – Exmouth · WA
An Exmouth operation running certified scuba diving alongside whale shark and other wildlife tours. The scuba and snorkelling products are distinct and should be booked deliberately.
exmouthdiving.com.au · (08) 9949 1201
Dive Ningaloo
ListedExmouth · Ningaloo – Exmouth · WA
An Exmouth operation focused on certified scuba diving, including Navy Pier access.
diveningaloo.com.au · 0456 702 437
Sail Ningaloo
ListedCoral Bay · Ningaloo – Coral Bay · WA
A multi-day sailing and diving operation on Ningaloo Reef, offering a liveaboard-style format.
sailningaloo.com.au · 1800 197 194
Ningaloo Blue Dive
ListedExmouth · Ningaloo – Exmouth · WA
An Exmouth operation running diving alongside wildlife tours. Product categories should be checked before booking.
ningalooblue.com.au · (08) 9949 1119
Coral Bay Eco Tours
Named by sitesCoral Bay · Ningaloo – Coral Bay · WA
Trades as Coral Bay Ecotours.
coralbayecotours.com.au · (08) 9942 5885
Ningaloo Reef Whalesharks
Named by sitesCoral Bay · Ningaloo – Coral Bay · WA
Based in Coral Bay, not Exmouth; whale shark / humpback swim tours.
ningalooreefwhalesharks.au · (08) 9948 5190
Map
7 pinned sites. Pins marked approximate on their pages show the general area only; not for navigation.
Satellite views



Zvir: frequently asked questions
How deep is Zvir?
Zvir reaches a maximum depth of 10 m, with the shallowest part at about 4 m; most of the dive is spent around 8 m.
What certification do I need to dive Zvir?
Open Water is the recommended minimum. Rated advanced because of surge on the entry or in the shallows.
Can I shore dive Zvir?
No, it is reached by boat (about 30 minutes).
When is the best time to dive Zvir?
April–October on glassy days.
What marine life will I see at Zvir?
Regularly recorded: Reef fish, coral on wreckage, turtles, reef sharks.
What wetsuit do I need at Zvir?
3 mm full suit; 5 mm in winter.
How cold is the water at Zvir?
Typically 25-28 °C in summer and 20-23 °C in winter.
What are the main hazards at Zvir?
Swell and surge; remote; protected wreck; sanctuary zone. See the hazards section above for the full list.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber to Zvir?
Fiona Stanley Hospital (Perth) – RFDS evacuation via Exmouth/Learmonth or Carnarvon; very remote. In an emergency call 000, then DAN Asia-Pacific on 1800 088 200.
Diving in Ningaloo – Coral Bay
Coral Bay, at the southern end of Ningaloo, has manta rays year-round on the Bateman Bay cleaning stations, a shore snorkel over hard coral at Bill's Bay, and boat dives to the Asho's Gap grey reef shark cleaning station and the outer reef walls. Whale sharks and humpbacks pass in season.
Getting there: Fly to Learmonth then drive 90 minutes, or drive 12 hours from Perth. Several operators run manta swims and dives from the beach.
All Ningaloo – Coral Bay dive sites and a suggested itinerary →
Sources
Data confidence: High · Being verified: Tonnage discrepancy in source (2,100 vs 3,353).. Last updated September 2026. Know this site better? How to send a correction
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