Join the Shipwreck Hunters for more maritime mysteries and heart-pumping adventure as they uncover Western Australia’s hidden coastal secrets.
Feature by Carolyn Beasley
In the washing machine of white-water, some 35 kilometres off Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia, a boat chugs up and over the surging swells, scanning the seafloor in an ever-expanding search grid. Onboard are the Shipwreck Hunters, a salty bunch of underwater adventurers, intent on solving a 123-year-old mystery.
In 1902, the Langston, laden with jarrah and karri timber from south west Australia, departed from Bunbury. Swept up in a storm, the ship catastrophically collided with treacherous Naturaliste Reef. And now, as a wave sucks back, that same reef becomes exposed in its angry, jagged glory, just metres from the search boat. Somewhere below is the wreck, but finding it in this raw and inaccessible location is going to take all the skills the Shipwreck Hunters can muster.
In response to the overwhelming popularity of the Disney+ series Shipwreck Hunters Australia season one, the watery adventures continue into season two. Featuring the original team of Ryan Chatfield, Johnny Debnam, Nush Freedman, Andre Rerekura, and Ash Sutton, assisted by maritime archeologists from the Western Australia Museum, the Shipwreck Hunters continue their quest to reveal some of Western Australia’s 1,650 wrecked vessels.
Shipwreck Hunters team with archaeologist Bob Sheppard searching for the Gilt Dragon. Credit: Disney+
Onboard the search vessel for the Langston at Naturaliste Reef, maritime archaeologist from the WA Museum Dr Deb Shefi, says any information uncovered about maritime mysteries is significant to our national history. And don’t be fooled, although the cameras are rolling, the outcomes in this series are by no means pre-determined.
“The reality is that most shipwrecks are discovered by accident, so this is a rare opportunity to have a planned expedition,” Deb says. “The ship’s location on the seafloor tells a story. We know the Langston hit the reef, but what happened then? These are the stories that we might finally be able to tell.”
During series two, the search for wrecks spans remote islands in the wild Southern Ocean east of Esperance (Kepa Kurl), to vibrant Shark Bay (Gathaagudu), the ship graveyard of the Abrolhos Islands and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef (Nyinggulu).
Old Pylons of Busselton Jetty, Busselton. Credit: Disney+
According to Brendan Hutchens of VAM Media, director and producer of the series, the storied Langston is the embodiment of maritime superstitions, with unlucky days of the week, 13 crew members, and a name change all blamed for the catastrophe. But it was most unlucky for Andreas Larsen, who had survived a previous shipwreck, only to perish in this one.
“He was only in his early twenties, and it's a big part of the story for us, that human connection,” says Brendan. “The more you get involved in the story, the more you think ‘we’ve got to tell his story’, and if we can find the ship, in a way, it's closure.”
From the deck of the search vessel, Ryan and Johnny deploy the high-tech scanning equipment, which is towed behind the boat. A magnetometer will detect anything metal on the seafloor, while the side scanner will reveal changes in topography that could be a shipwreck-sized lump.
Hour after hour, the team huddles around a computer screen, watching. As Andre logs the search grid using a GPS phone App, he describes the adrenaline rush that follows any potential underwater discovery.
Crew of Shipwreck Hunters at the moment of discovery. Credit: Disney+
“You're gobsmacked, more than anything, and you're trying to tell yourself whether it is real or not,” Andre says. “Really new discoveries are just so crazy rare, and it's something we're so passionate about.”
But if the team does spot something, they must fight the urge to immediately scramble overboard.
“We’ve got to take it slow, because we're out here in volatile, open ocean,” Andre explains. “We see if we can anchor close by and get the remotely operated vehicle down there, scan around and get a visual with the camera. And then, if it’s shallow enough, we get ready to dive.”
Today, despite a full day of searching, the Langston has kept her secret, and the team returns to Busselton (Undalup) empty handed. But Shipwreck Hunting takes patience, and on the fifth day of scouring, there’s a breakthrough.
“It was the last 30 minutes of the last day of searching,” says Brendan. “Sunset was coming and everyone's been seasick for days. And then there it is, sitting upright on the sandy bottom, four kilometers away from the reef.”
As the Langston materialises in the gloomy depths, the Shipwreck Hunters are elated; another piece of history is revealed.
Tune into Shipwreck Hunters Australia season two for more ocean discoveries, premiering exclusively on Disney+ from August 27, with all six episodes released at once.
Andre Rerekura on the Hunter Boat, Credit: Disney+
Published August 2025.