Legislation & dive permits

An area with a radius of 500 metres, centred at the intersection of latitude 11°22'40"S and longitude 143°59'35"E is declared a protected zone under Section 7 of the Commonwealth's Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 [external link, opens in new window].

A permit is required to enter this protected zone and to dive on the wreck. Permits can be applied for from the Director of the Queensland Museum, who is the minister's delegate in Queensland under the provisions of the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.

The protected zone is regularly patrolled by aerial surveillance craft. Penalties apply for entering the zone without a permit.

Pandora Entrance is also located within an area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park which has been gazetted as a "Marine Park B Zone" (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 [external link, opens in new window]). Enquiries about access to the Marine Park and permissible activities within the park should be directed to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [external link, opens in new window].

Download the Permit Application form for access to the Pandora.