The wreck of Catalina JX435 is a fascinating WWII-era flying boat wreck scattered across shallow seagrass beds within the turquoise lagoon of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Strafed and sunk in 1945, the plane broke into several pieces on impact, leaving two distinct engine sections and fuselage remnants now encrusted with coral and marine growth. The shallow, clear waters make this an accessible and historically rich snorkel site, offering a rare glimpse into a wartime relic frozen in time beneath the surface.
Catalina Flying Boat Wreck
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.8 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 13 knPrecipitation 14 mmTidal Phase slack
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Low risk: Boat traffic in lagoon
The wreck is scattered across seagrass beds with sandy patches; occasional boat traffic in the lagoon requires awareness.
Low risk: Shallow water / fragile wreckage
Shallow water depth means snorkelers must be cautious not to kick or disturb the fragile wreckage and seagrass.
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Getting in
Snorkel tour
Entry
The Catalina wreck lies within the lagoon of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, accessible by boat from the main island of West Island. Local operators such as Cocos Blue Charters run snorkel tours that include the wreck site along with other lagoon spots.
Parking & facilities
Parking is available at the jetty area on West Island near the charter departure point.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports