The Valiant is a 25-metre former firefighting tug that sank under tow in 1981 just off Palm Beach, coming to rest upright in 27 m of water on a sandy bottom. Though the superstructure has slowly collapsed over decades, the intact hull, engine room skylights, and galley remain explorable, with the bow and anchor winch still prominent. The wreck is thickly draped in colourful marine growth and acts as an artificial reef, hosting yellowtail, bream, mado, stripey, bullseye, and sergeant baker. Due to its 27 m depth, this is strictly an advanced snorkel site suited to freedivers and experienced boat-access snorkelers — not a casual shore entry.
Valiant Shipwreck (Palm Beach)
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Wave Height 0.4 mSwell Period 6.5 sWind Speed 5.1 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase ebb
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Valiant Shipwreck (Palm Beach) has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Extreme depth for snorkeling (27 m) danger
The wreck sits at 27 m depth, well beyond recreational snorkel limits; freediving beyond 10-15 m carries serious risk of shallow-water blackout.
The spot
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Extreme depth for snorkeling (27 m)
The wreck sits at 27 m depth, well beyond recreational snorkel limits; freediving beyond 10-15 m carries serious risk of shallow-water blackout.
Moderate risk: Variable and poor visibility
Visibility can change rapidly from excellent to near-zero regardless of surface conditions.
Moderate risk: Tidal current
Tidal current can develop on the wreck, typically in the top 5-10 m of the water column, increasing drift.
Moderate risk: Deteriorating wreck structure
The wreck has deteriorating metal superstructure with sharp edges, collapsed decking, and confined interior spaces that pose entanglement and laceration risks.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Boat traffic in Broken Bay and around Barrenjoey Head, including seaplanes and recreational vessels, requires constant surface vigilance.
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Getting in
Boat
Entry
The Valiant wreck lies approximately 1 km east of Barrenjoey Head and 0.5 km off Palm Beach, in Broken Bay. Access is by private boat or charter departing from Bayview, Pittwater, or Palm Beach. GPS: 33° 34.705' S 151° 20.735' E.
Parking & facilities
Paid parking at Governor Phillip Park on Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach. Boat trailer parking available near Palm Beach Boat Ramp (East) along The Esplanade.
parkingboat_ramp
Paid parking available at Governor Phillip Park, Palm Beach ($12/vehicle per day). Charter dive costs vary (~$100-150 per double dive).
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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