Omeo Wreck — Attraction in Western Australia

The Omeo wreck, located off the coast of Coogee Beach, Western Australia, is a captivating remnant of Australia’s maritime history. The Omeo was a 60-meter iron barque originally built in 1858 in Newcastle, England. It served various purposes throughout its life, including as a troopship and a cable-laying vessel instrumental in establishing submarine telegraph connections. Despite its robust construction, the Omeo met its tragic fate in 1905 when it was driven ashore during a storm, where it was abandoned and left to deteriorate over time. Today, its skeletal remains rest in shallow waters, providing a unique window into the past.

The wreck is now a key feature of the Coogee Maritime Trail, an underwater and shoreline attraction designed to educate visitors about the area’s maritime heritage. Snorkelers and divers can explore the site up close, marveling at the barnacle-encrusted hull and the diverse marine life it has attracted over the decades. The clear waters allow for excellent visibility, making it a popular destination for underwater photographers and history enthusiasts alike. Above the waves, interpretive signage along the shore provides historical context, ensuring the Omeo’s story is accessible to all.

Beyond its historical significance, the wreck serves as a poignant reminder of the perils of sea travel during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It also highlights the resilience of communities in preserving their cultural and natural heritage. Over the years, the Omeo has evolved from a symbol of maritime disaster to a cherished landmark that connects people to Western Australia’s seafaring past. Whether viewed from the beach or explored beneath the surface, the Omeo wreck remains a fascinating testament to history, nature, and...

I brought my brother here when he was in town for a bit of snorkeling. We both enjoyed the waters on this warm, clear day.

I had been before so I got to show him the interesting parts of the wreck and dared to swim through tighter parts myself (I would not reccomend this without suitable exposure protection like I was wearing and a solid degree of experience in free diving enclosed spaces as it gets very tight).

I went through the dive trail myself and swam under the starfish which was cool, saw many different fish, a shovel-nosed ray and a bright purple cuttlefish hiding under the windward side of the wreck itself.

There was a school group snorkelling the wreck, so I showed off a little, I gave my brother my snorkel and went down with only my mask for vision and did a four minute breath-hold as I pointed the cuttlefish and some other cool stuff out to the kids as they swam past me.

Overall a great day, I would reccomend calm seas and little to no wind and a moderate confidence in freediving for the...

Love visiting here for a snorkel. Sometimes parking can be tricky, but certainly not the worst beach for it. The snorkelling trail is fantastic with plenty of concrete artificial reef installations (mats, pyramids, rounds and triangles) that are more plant that coral growth, and whilst you will definitely see fish, not as many or varied as methams pool. Also the artifact items like the train wheel, port hole and canon, are more fun to specifically hunt down.

The star fish swim through art installation is seriously creepy from above, and I've yet to pluck up the courage to swim through. Certainly not on my own with just the snorkel and mast, or a thick rashie to protect my back.

Have found the best times to come down are early morning (630-7am) and the afternoon around 2ish for calm sea and good visibility. Jellies have always been there, but only been stung once and it's nothing more than annoying (unless you...