Operators could not influence Lonely Planet or advertise in its publications, which gave its views credibility.
"It's a huge coup. It could well lead to an increase in visitors. You shouldn't underestimate the power of Lonely Planet. People trust it as unbiased."
Mrs Wadsworth said the appeal of the wreck lay in its history, its emotional impact and its marine life.
After 25 years on the bottom the wreck was a rainbow of coloured anemones and sponges.
Fishing was not banned in the area (unlike the Canterbury wreck in Deep Water Cove) but it was discouraged, allowing marine life, including a resident scorpion fish dubbed George, to flourish.
It could also be a very emotional dive, especially for the young generation of French tourists coming to terms with their country's past, Mrs Wadsworth said.
The wreck was small enough to explore on a single dive, but at 26m below the surface it was not suitable for novices.
Across the Tasman, however, dive operators are less impressed by Lonely Planet's list.
The head of the Association of Marine Park Operators, Col McKenzie, told an Australian newspaper that it was "ridiculous" that not one Great Barrier Reef site made it on to the top 10.
A piqued Mr McKenzie said neither Australia's Cocklebiddy Cave nor the Rainbow Warrior deserved to be in the top 10 compared to the reef's top dive sites such as the Yongala wreck near Townsville or Osprey Reef off Cape York.
The world's top 10 dive sites, as chosen by Lonely Planet
1 Great Blue Hole, Belize
2 Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
3 Manta Ray Village, Hawaii
4 Samarai Is, Papua New Guinea
5 Pulau Sipadan, Malaysia
6 Cocos Is, Costa Rica
7 Gansbaai, South Africa
8 Ras Mohammed National Park, Egypt
9 Cocklebiddy Cave, Australia
10 Rainbow Warrior wreck, New Zealand
