Sunreef, Immerse Yourself
Ex-HMAS Brisbane Double Dive
The Dive
Dive one the World's best Wrecks the EX HMAS Brisbane, a decommissioned guided missile destroyer. Located just 2.9 nautical miles offshore which makes it an easy venture out and is available to dive all year round. Sunreef has exclusive use of the 2 midship moorings, making for 2 leisurely dives in which you can visit the entire wreck comfortably. Explore the outside of the wreck and encounter an abundance of local aquatic sea life that inhabits her. Then explore the depths of her hull, enter the engine room or even visit the control room where her kill switches are still intact.
The wreck now serves as a world-class artificial reef and diving site. She has attracted divers from all over the world. Divers from open water level, to divemaster, instructors, dive shop owners and ex-servicemen who served on the HMAS BRISBANE all sing the praises of this great wreck dive; She seems to be in the perfect diving spot. Sitting bolt upright the HMAS Brisbane has 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. Just one dive on the HMAS Brisbane and you readily understand why Sunreef is privileged to have been issued a licence by the Environment Protection Agency of the Queensland Government to conduct dive trips on the former HMAS Brisbane. The dive is phenomenal. 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. Environmental studies commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency and conducted by scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast and Queensland Museum confirms the diversity of marine life that has made the Brisbane home. A resident school of predatory yellow tailed king fish now ‘buzz’ the schools of of bait fish that surround the HMAS Brisbane. Local inhabitants include a large bull & eagle rays, angler fish, lion fish, blennies, nudibranchs, sea hares, squid and a school of juvenile red emperor and snapper. Other visitors include a shovelled nose rays, greasy cod and eagle rays. An octopus has made a home in a pyrotechnic tube on the deck. Up to 10 huge Queensland Grouper have been seen at one time off the bow of the ship. A turtle has taken up residency on the aft funnel and eagle rays cruise between the 2 funnels. There’s also a huge amount of soft corals to be seen and hard corals are really getting established as well.
HistoryThe Ship: Commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1967 the HMAS Brisbane was a 133 metre, Charles F Adams Class DDG, guided missile destroyer of approx 5000 tons. The HMAS BRISBANE served Australia faithfully for 34 years, till she was decommissioned in 2001. She served in both the Vietnam and Gulf wars and assisted on many humanitarian missions such as in Darwin in 1974 after cyclone Tracey.
Its New Life: In January 2003, the Queensland Government agreed to accept the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane from the Commonwealth Government for sinking off the Sunshine Coast as an artificial reef and dive site.
The Scuttling: After extensive and careful preparation, the ship was towed for its last journey to the Sunshine Coast. With the expertise of a crew who had extensive experience in scuttling ships for artificial reefs, explosives were carefully positioned in specially made wooden frames hard against the inside skin of the ship, below the waterline. On 31 July 2005 at a site 2.9 nautical miles east of Mudjumba Island off the Sunshine Coast these explosives were detonated and in 2 minutes and 10 seconds, the former HMAS BRISBANE was on the bottom in 28 metres of water. HMAS Brisbane being towed to her resting place.
Reminder for divers:
Please note if you have not dived in the last 2 years you will be required to complete a Scuba Review before you can participate in any diving activities.
These can be arranged on most days at set times provided we have at least 3 days notice. Please contact us on 07 5444 5656 for more information.
This is also in Open Water and we suggest that you look into Seasickness medication to minimize the chance of it effecting your trip.
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