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Divers Den

BATAVIA (1629)

Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia

Fully rigged sailing vessel

VESSEL DETAILS
Launched:
1628, Amsterdam, Holland
Sank:                          
1629, wrecked
Length:
45.3 metres (149’)
Beam:
10.9 metres (36’)
Displacement:
860 tons
Speed:
5 knots
Complement:
341 passengers & crew

WARNING: Wrecks should not be penetrated without proper training & equipment!

NOTE: All wrecks and related artifacts older than 75 years in Australian waters are protected by the Australian Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. Nothing can be taken!

INFORMATION
The Houtman-Abrolhos Islands is a world-class diving mecca located 55 kilometres (34 mi) off Geraldton on the mid-Western Australian coast.

Massive coral gardens support an enormous array of fish life including baldchin groper, coral trout, Western Australian dhufish, pink snapper, Sampson fish and yellowtail kingfish.

Manta rays, turtles, whales and seals are often encountered and the reefs are teeming with crayfish.

The islands are the site of numerous shipwrecks, including the famous Zeewijk (1727).

One of Australia’s most infamous events unfolded when Batavia was wrecked in 1629 and become the scene of mutiny, rape and murder.

Batavia was on her maiden voyage carrying 341 passengers and crew when she hit Morning Reef.

Many lost their lives and 268 survivors were left on Beacon Island and another nearby island while Commodore Pelsart, with 48 of his men, headed for Batavia (now Jakarta) for help.

While Pelsart was away, Cornelisz lead a mutiny that resulted in the murder of all but about 100 of the 268 survivors.

When Pelsart returned on a rescue ship, Cornelisz and his cohorts were tried and executed.

The wreck of the Batavia was discovered in 1963 and the Western Australian Museum has since recovered and reconstructed the remains of the vessel in the museum’s Fremantle Maritime and Shipwreck Galleries.

There is a replica of the Batavia in Lelystad, Netherlands and there is talk of bringing the replica to Western Australia.

Diving on the Batavia site, often subject to swell and waves, can be quite exhilarating as divers go back and forth in the ground swell in crystal clear water.

There are still cannons and other artifacts to be seen on the wreck site.

Abrolhos Islands is also one of Australia’s 50 Great Dives! READ MORE

Special thanks to Jay Cox of Eco Abrolhos Cruises     
Copyright © 2025 Steve Sinclair

DIVE DETAILS
Scuba:                                      
Open Water
Snorkelling:
Yes, fantastic!
Access:                                      
Boat only (Live aboard)
Depth:                                      
3 – 10 metres (10-115’)
Visibility:                                
20 – 40+ metres (65-130+’)
Water temperature:           
19 – 26°C (66-79°F)
Seasonal:                                
No, but April to June best

OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE IN THE AREA
Long Island, Beacon Island, Turtle Bay, Anemone Lump, Coral Patches, Morley Island and Rootail Coral.

2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
To register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
NOTE: Entrants should do this dive with one of the following preferred dive services.

DIVE SERVICES

OTHER SERVICES

DIVE TRAVEL SERVICES