Ex-HMAS Brisbane Double Dive (Sunshine Coast )
- Sunshine Coast
- Snorkelling / Diving
- Instant Confirmation
- Special Experience
- Watersports
- Tour in English
Overview
The vessel 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 Ex-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 Ex-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.
Explore the outside of the wreck and encounter an abundance of local aquatic sea life that inhabits her. Discover the depths of her hull, enter the engine room or even visit the control room where her kill switches are still intact.
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.
Local inhabitants include a large bull & eagle rays, angler fish, lionfish, 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. A resident school of predatory yellow tailed kingfish now ‘buzz’ the schools of of bait fish that surround the Ex-HMAS Brisbane. 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.
History of the vessel
The vessel: 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 War and assisted on many humanitarian missions such as in Darwin in 1974, after cyclone Tracy.
Her 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 the 31st of July 2005, at a site 2.9 nautical miles east of Mudjimba 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.
On departure to the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, our trained crew will provide a thorough briefing for all our divers about the Ex-HMAS Brisbane site and will answer any questions you may have about it. Once the boat exits the calm waters of the Mooloolaba River system, it is around a 15 minute ride to the site. The vessel will be moored and our crew will help you set up to get in the water.
Each dive is planned to last for either 50 minutes or will end to have you on the surface with 50 bar (whichever one comes first).
Every dive is different depending on the conditions that day and time. Usually though, the first dive will explore the length and outside of the Ex-HMAS Brisbane. The second dive will discover the depths and inside of the vessel.
Between dives, we will come up for a surface interval where you are provided snacks and water. Feel free to bring along your own snacks if you have allergies or would like more substantial food.
The divers then return to the shop, where we will unload the vessel and wash all your gear for you if you so wish.
EX-HMAS BRISBANE SPECIFICS
Guides are provided. Group sizes are approximately 6 per guide.
You must supply your certification card.
It is highly recommended that all divers wear gloves to avoid any cuts and abrasions. Gloves are available for purchase in the shop and for hire.
For those wishing to penetrate the ship the current regulations are as follows:
• All first-time divers on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, regardless of qualification or skill level, must have a familiarisation dive with a Sunreef guide for their first dive.
• No penetration on your first dive.
• Guides are available, at no cost, for those not qualified or experienced in wreck penetration.Open Water Divers may penetrate with a Sunreef Dive guide.
• Advanced Open Water Divers have unlimited penetration with a Sunreef guide to all depths of the wreck.
• Wreck/Cave Specialty Divers or divers with appropriate experience and equipment may independently penetrate.
• Divers in light locked areas must carry all appropriate specialist equipment.
• If you wish to penetrate the wreck you will be required to carry a torch.
What’s included
Included
- Approximately 5 hours, and 2 Dive(Each dive is planned to last for either 50 minutes)
- Professional diving Guide
- Our vessels will have light snacks, water
Not included
- Your own dive equipment. If you don't have, can purchase or hire from our shop along with the rest of the necessary scuba equipment.
- All inclusions are as indicated on the websites at time of travel. If not stated as included the item/s are at guests own cost.
Ages
You must have diving certification card.
If you are pregnant, we unfortunately cannot take you on this tour.
If you have not dived in the last 2 years or more: You will be required to complete either a Scuba Review/Refresher Course or a Reactivate Course before you can participate in any diving activities.
How to use
After the booking is comfirmed you will receive an email with attachment. Please check the details on the voucher. On the day of tour, please take the voucher to participate in the avtivity
Please arrive at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure.
Your confirmation of the trip will depend on the sea conditions and weather. We will monitor this closely and if the weather or sea conditions are unsuitable, we will let you know as soon as we can. We will send out an email and text message the day before your trip around 3:30 pm to inform you of the status of the trip and its departure time.
Check in at Sunreef starts at the time outlined on your confirmation email or text. When you arrive, we will see you at our check in desk to see your diver certification card and ensure that your gear is organized. If you bring your own gear, our crew can carry it down to the dock where you can set up the gear. If we know you are hiring gear, everything will be organized for you prior to check in.
Each diver must complete a Sunreef Diver Statement before diving with us. If any of the medical questions on your Diver Statement or at check in are answered ‘YES’, a doctor’s clearance may be required before you can dive with us.
Good to know
This is in open water and we suggest you consider seasickness tablets to minimize the risk of seasickness affecting your trip.
ALL POINTS BELOW MUST BE AGREED TO ON BEFORE DIVING WITH SUNREEF:
You understand and state that you are physically and mentally capable and trained to participate successfully in open sea condition diving. You further acknowledge that Sunreef Diving will give no refunds for seasickness, inability to equalize or for any other reason that prevents an individual from participating fully.
You have no medical condition that would affect your ability to safely dive. You are not taking any medication that has not been approved by your physician for diving. You will not be under the effect of alcohol or drugs when diving with us.
You will not fly within 24 hours from surfacing after your last dive.
You warrant that as a certified diver, your skill levels are at least equal to a newly certified Open Water diver. You understand that dive guides supplied by Sunreef are solely to enhance my diving experience and not because such guidance is required to compensate for my lack of diving skill.
Sunreef may cancel or change trip destinations at any time due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances.
You will follow the direction of Sunreef staff at all times to ensure a safe and fluid operation. You will listen to all briefings and seek advice if you don’t understand any part of the brief.
You take the responsibility for checking the safe and correct operation of your dive equipment prior to diving, whether the equipment be provided by myself or Sunreef Hire Gear. You will carry and know how to use the following: snorkel, safety sausage (SMB), whistle and dive computer.
You take responsibility for the planning of your dive and diving your plan within a safe NO DECOMPRESSION DIVE.
By acknowledging this, you agree to release Sunreef, its employees/contractors or associated agents from being sued for personal injury, wrongful death or damage to personal equipment. You are fully aware of the contents of this form and have clearly read and understood all the above points. Your Diver Statement is valid for 12 months from date of submission.
By providing your email address, you give permission for Sunreef to contact you in regards to diving activities and promotions.
By filling out your Diver Statement you agree to allow Sunreef Mooloolaba to use any pictures of have yourself or any pictures that were taken on your trip on any social media site. Please see our Privacy Policy (if on mobile or tablet, at the bottom; if on computer, on the sidebar)
If you are undertaking a dive on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, you understand that your first dive will be an orientation dive with guide. No penetration will be allowed. Penetration dives are not to be undertaken if the sea conditions, visibility or diver ability are not seen adequate by Sunreef employees.
Sunreef reserves the right at any time to cancel any dive. If, in the opinion of the Skipper, the voyage cannot be continued for any reason, then the Skipper may terminate the dive at any time. If we, the Sunreef staff cancel the dive, either we can place your booking on hold for another time, you can reschedule the trip at the time of cancellation, or a full refund will be provided.
Disclaimer
After the product is successfully booked, we will send you a confirmation voucher. The main information about the reservation and the precautions for participation will be provided on the confirmation voucher. Please read it. If you do not have any feedback, we consider that you have read and know all the information on its confirmation.
As an intermediary agency, we are only responsible for making travel product reservations for tourists.
We recommend that tourists purchase travel insurance. Tourist product suppliers such as tourist attractions, hotels and transportation companies will be directly responsible for the quality, service and safety of travel products. We are not responsible for any safety issues with the products ordered.
In the event of an unexpected situation without insurance, we will only assist in handling it.
If the booking is forcibly cancelled due to the reasons of the travel product supplier, we will refund the full amount corresponding to the booking without additional compensation.
We will try our best to assist tourists to communicate and negotiate solutions with tourism product suppliers.
After the product is successfully booked, we will send you a confirmation voucher. The main information about the reservation and the precautions for participation will be provided on the confirmation voucher. Please read it. If you do not have any feedback, we consider that you have read and know all the information on its confirmation.
As an intermediary agency, we are only responsible for making travel product reservations for tourists.
We recommend that tourists purchase travel insurance. Tourist product suppliers such as tourist attractions, hotels and transportation companies will be directly responsible for the quality, service and safety of travel products. We are not responsible for any safety issues with the products ordered.
In the event of an unexpected situation without insurance, we will only assist in handling it.
If the booking is forcibly cancelled due to the reasons of the travel product supplier, we will refund the full amount corresponding to the booking without additional compensation.
No show: Ticket holders who 'no show' without prior cancellation or notification are not eligible for a refund.
We will try our best to assist tourists to communicate and negotiate solutions with tourism product suppliers.
For some marine products (including but not limited to various cruises, whale watching cruise, etc.), the supplier reserve the right to arrange alternative vessels or make changes to itineraries, service timetables, routes and/or destinations. The supplier may cancel or abandon the cruise if they consider it necessary for weather or safety reasons and except as expressly stated in these Terms and Conditions, we will not be liable for any loss or expense incurred by the Passenger caused by such substitution or cancellation.
When visiting attractions or participating in activities, please strictly adhere to the instructions provided by the venue or staff. Ensure you fully understand the associated risks (refer to venue announcements or the safety waiver required for signature for specific details), cooperate as required to implement appropriate safety precautions, and strictly refrain from engaging in any dangerous behaviors during the activity.
