NSW Central Coast · Australia · Wreck
SS Galava (Wreck)
1927 coaster in 51 m with kingfish on the line and baitfish over the hull
Area photo: Ray Hayward · CC BY-SA 3.0
A steam coaster that foundered in 1927 with some loss of life, now lying in 51 m just over three nautical miles east of Terrigal. It is a boat dive for experienced deep divers only: large kingfish meet you on the anchor line, shoals of baitfish surround the hull and wobbegongs lie around the wreck site.
Also known as Galava.
Where it is and how deep
33.4868° S, 151.6084° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The Galava lies just over three nautical miles east of Terrigal in 51 m, and Scubago lists it for experienced divers only on the strength of that depth. The dive starts and finishes on the anchor line, and the descent is the first event: expect to see large kingfish as you go down the line to the wreck, before the hull comes into view below.
On the bottom the coaster is a bait station. Shoals of baitfish surround the wreck, and wobbegong sharks are ever present, lying around the site on and beside the hull. Bottom time at 51 m is short, so the dive is a tour of the wreck at whatever pace your gas and decompression plan allow, then back to the line for a long staged ascent.
The wreck
- Vessel
- SS Galava
- Type
- Steam coaster
- Sunk
- 1927
- Cause
- Foundered on 9 February 1927 with some loss of life
- Lies
- In 51 m, just over three nautical miles east of Terrigal
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Wobbegongs
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Good | Good |
Season follows NSW Central Coast: Logged visibility peaks May–Aug at 15 m or more, when the water is coldest at 16–17°C; spring is murkiest, with 5 m or less logged in October.
Know before you go
- The wreck lies in 51 m, well past recreational limits; plan gas and decompression for that depth and stay on the anchor line for the descent and ascent.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the SS Galava wreck?+
The wreck lies in 51 m, just over three nautical miles east of Terrigal. Scubago lists it as suitable for experienced divers only because of the depth.
When did the SS Galava sink?+
The coaster foundered on 9 February 1927 with some loss of life, according to Wikipedia's list of shipwrecks for that year.
Sources
- SS Galava (Wreck) — Scubago
- List of shipwrecks in 1927 — Wikipedia
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