Sanko Harvest wreck, Esperance (500 m no-take zone)
Large wreck with a 500 m no-take exclusion zone around it since 1995: the bulk carrier Sanko Harvest struck a reef near Hood Island in the Recherche Archipelago on 14 February 1991 and sank on 17–18 February, about 33 km south-east of Esperance. She rests in about 40 m of water, with the highest accessible points about 13 m below the surface, and is described as the largest wreck dive off the Australian coast. Enclosed spaces and sharp metal debris make it an advanced boat dive, 1.5 hours from shore.
Facts
- Region: Western Australia – Ningaloo, Rottnest & the south-west
- Area: Esperance & Recherche Archipelago – temperate
- Depth: 13–40 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: -34.1225, 122.08139
- Highlights: huge wreck, enclosed spaces, fish life, no-take zone
- Tips: Boat only (about 1.5 h from Esperance); weather must be suitable. Local charter availability changes: Black Jack Charters was listed as unavailable until further notice in May 2026, so confirm with Visit Esperance. This is the cold southern coast, outside the Ningaloo tropics.