The Cheynes III is a deliberately sunk artificial reef and dive wreck in the sheltered waters of Princess Royal Harbour off Albany, Western Australia. Once a commercial fishing vessel, the 35-metre steel-hulled boat was scuttled in 2010 to create a thriving underwater habitat. Resting upright on a sandy seafloor in about 18 metres of water, the wreck is encrusted with colourful sponges, soft corals and kelp, attracting schools of fish and providing an excellent site for wreck snorkeling above the superstructure.
Cheynes III wreck
IntermediateSKIP
SKIP
Poor conditions. Stay out today.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 2.0 mSwell Period 12 sWind Speed 0.8 knPrecipitation 2.6 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
Low risk: Entanglement hazards
Fishing lines, netting and loose rigging on the wreck structure can snag fins or equipment. Stay aware of your surroundings.
Low risk: Strong currents
Occasional tidal flows through Princess Royal Harbour can be moderate. Check conditions before entering.
Low risk: Cold water temperatures
Southern Ocean waters in Albany drop significantly in winter; wetsuit thickness of 5mm or more recommended year-round.
Low risk: Limited visibility
After storms or wind events, silt can reduce underwater visibility at the wreck site significantly.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
The wreck lies in Princess Royal Harbour near Albany. Boat access is required; it is a short run from the Albany town boat ramps at Emu Point or close to the Albany marina. Local dive charter operators regularly run trips to the site.
Parking & facilities
Parking is available at Emu Point boat ramp car park and at the Albany marina.
parkingtoiletsboat_ramp
No fee to visit the wreck if using a private vessel. Charter dive/snorkel tours have fees set by local operators (typically $80–$150 AUD per person).
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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