Sunshine Coast Scuba Diving HMAS Brisbane Reef Trips

Description

Diving on the Sunshine Coast is great all year round with visibility varying from 10 to 20 metres regularly and sometimes even up to 30 metres. Water temperature varies from 18C in winter to 26C in summer. Many varieties of marine life and hard and soft corals are to be found in the area, along with turtles, rays, wobbegongs, schools of varied pelagic fish, tropicals of many varieties and the magical nudibranch. Make sure you bring your camera and/or an underwater torch, the colours are fantastic! During the winter, it is not uncommon to see migrating humpback whales

Just look at what’s available within easy reach of Mooloolaba.

HMAS Brisbane Dive:
Commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1967 the HMAS Brisbane was a 133 metre, Charles F Adams Class DDG, guided missile destroyer. Over 34 years of service, till she was decommissioned in 2001, she served in both the Vietnam and Gulf wars .

Scuttled in mid 2005 as an artificial reef, the former destroyer, ex HMAS Brisbane is attracting a growing number of divers from around the country and around the world. Being on a sandy floor in 27 metres of water, she seems to be in the perfect diving spot. Sitting bolt upright the HMAS Brisbane has 12 to 15 metres of water over her forward decks and 18 metres over her stern. Consistently good water clarity and minimal swell makes for great diving.

There is certainly a lot of ship to see. Just cruising around the outside, its sheer size makes it an awesome sight. Water temperatures range from 17C in winter to a summer high of 27C. Visibility averages around 15 metres but up to 20 metres or more is not uncommon.

A resident school of predatory yellow tailed king fish now ‘buzz’ the schools of bait fish that surround the HMAS Brisbane. Local inhabitants include a large bull ray, angler fish, lion fish, blennies, nudibranchs, sea hares, squid and a small school of juvenile snapper. Other visitors include a shovelled nose ray, greasy cod and eagle rays. An octopus has made a home in a pyrotechnic tube on the deck.

Other dive options:

Barwon Banks:
An adventure dive only for the experienced diver. Pristine coral reef, rising up from 70m plus to 25m. Big fish that haven't seen many divers and aren't afraid. 25 nautical miles off shore. We can and will see anything, so be prepared. Divers only taken at our discretion!

Castle Rock:
Just a 15 minute run from the Mooloolaba Harbour out near the "Blinkers", Castle Rock drops to 21 metres on the sand. Featuring a large rock overhang covered in stunning orange flower-like coral. Coming up to 14 metres you’ll see shoals of surgeon fish, batfish, trevally, and fusiliers, as well as crayfish, nudibranchs, and an occasional turtle. Lots of interesting ledges and terrain to explore.

Plateau:
This flat shelf drops off to approximately 14 metres. The Plateau is covered in colourful nudibranchs and other marine life, but it is also habitat to a resident moray eel who enjoys being hand fed. The flat sandy bottom around the shelf makes this dive site extremely easy to navigate.

The Cave:
A 10-12 metre dive incorporating interesting ledges, gutters and swim throughs. Here you will find an abundance of marine life, hard and soft corals and an occasional wobbegong. Shoals of pelagic fish visit this area and during October through May along with harmless, toothless and docile leopard sharks.

Mudjimba Island (Old Woman Island):
Close to shore Mudjimba Island offers safe, easy and interesting diving. Lots of soft corals, sea sponges, sea anemones, nudibranchs and many varieties of tropical fish inhabit this area. Also, it’s a great area for snorkelling.

Hanging Rock:
A 10 to 18 metre ledge that runs east to west and is home to an amazing array of marine life. See wobbegongs, squirrel fish and barracuda in their natural habitat.
Overhangs and swim throughs are a prominent feature amongst the large array of hard and soft corals. This site is our most colourful which makes for an excellent night dive.

Pinnacles:
The amazing sight of three upright pinnacles, the highest rising 10 metres from sea bed, make this a great dive site. The tops of the pinnacles are submerged in up to 16 metres of water! Bat fish, trevalley, butterfly fish, barracuda and plenty of wobbegong sharks make this area home.
Dives are supervised by our qualified divemasters and the vessels are equipped with all safety gear as required by Queensland Transport and Workplace Health & Safety.

Breakfast Club Dives:
During summer months we run the Breakfast Diving Club. It works very simply...get up early, go dive a popular local site where the water is calm and the sea life is abundant, come back wash your gear, eat breakfast and then get ready for work. But keep in mind this form of diving is pretty popular and the seats are limited. You’ve got to get in early! BYO snacks, water on board $55 for the boat ride out and back. Dive gear is extra.

We also run regular NIGHT DIVES!

Included In Price

Boat charter out to the reefs. Optional tanks and dive gear are available for hire.

Sunreef speeds you out to the Brisbane in what many are describing as the Sunshine Coast’s best dive boat – the purpose built 11 metre Kevla Cat dive boat we call 2 Ezy. Dive on 2 Ezy to find out about real comfort on the water.
Sunreef diving centre runs morning trips daily (weather permitting) and regular afternoon and night dives to the Brisbane.

Location

110 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba, Queensland Australia 4557

Participant Guidelines

For your next diving experience, confirm a position on the boat, arrive at our dive shop by 7:30am and we will take you on 2 dives.

Price Valid For

Per person

Booking Notes

A $15 reef tax (government tax) is payable on the day. This brings the total for the charter only to $145.00, double dive with tanks and weights to $160 and the double dive with all gear supplied to $199.50.

Departure Time

7:30am

Weather Exceptions

Contact operator in case of bad weather.