Visiting Geraldton is like opening both a treasure chest and Pandora’s box.

The former relates to the wealth of things to see and do in the heart of Western Australia’s coastline, some 416km north of Perth. From crayfish tours, extreme water sports and whale watching, to taking a flight or fast ferry to the port city’s nearby chain of islands dubbed the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,’ there’s enough to excite water babies of any age.

On the flip side, the latter relates to Geraldton’s cursed offshore history. Evidence of coastal mishaps and battles rediscovered in the past century provides a compelling education on Australia’s maritime history. The lessons learnt is enough for you to want to dive deeper to find out more about past events with a 16th-century castaway-led mutiny and WWII shipwrecks Geraldton’s most gripping chapters.

See more: Deep-Sea Discoveries