The wreck
Today the remains include a large part of the hull, now buried, along with deck frames, sections of the masts, anchor chain and other fastenings.
The story
Centurion was built as a timber clipper ship in 1869 at the Aberdeen shipyard of Walter Hood & Sons, for the Aberdeen White Star Line. She was 63 m long and 1004 tons gross, and was later re-rigged as a barque, square-rigged on two masts. Towards the end of her life the passenger and cargo ship worked as a collier.
On 16 January 1887 she was leaving Sydney under tow, bound for Honolulu, when she got into trouble at the Heads. Trying to pass a steamer moored in the channel, she struck the rocks at Old Man’s Hat on North Head. She came off the rocks, drifted back into the harbour and sank in 18 m of water.
On the boat
We dive the Centurion from Sea Life V as part of a two-dive boat trip leaving from Rose Bay or Manly. A dive briefing is given before you get in, and full gear hire is available on board.
Dive it with us
Sydney boat dives
Two dives from Sea Life V, leaving Rose Bay and Manly.
See the tripWhere it is
Nearby sites
- Boat dive · North Head Blue Fish PointA relaxed dive on the northern side of North Head, and a great place to see weedy seadragons.24 m
- Boat dive · Dee Why Dee Why WideOne of Sydney’s premier boat dives, off Dee Why on the Northern Beaches. Deep gullies and cracks in the rocky bottom hold a huge amount of marine life.37 m
- Boat dive · Collaroy Long Reef (The Apartments)A boat dive north of Sydney Harbour along a big rock wall, with a swim-through called the Cathedral and gutters where grey nurse sharks gather.25 m
- Boat dive · South Maroubra Magic PointOne of Sydney’s most iconic dive sites. A ledge and cave along a wall is home to its most famous residents: grey nurse sharks.23 m
