SS Yongala

Every dive here is a boat dive into open water. The wreck lies about 20 km off the beach, a 30 to 40 minute run in a fast RIB from the shore, or a longer trip from Townsville. Buoys and lines are fixed at the bow and stern, and once down, the dive is easy to navigate along the top ridge of the hull. The sea on the way out is not always kind: the conditions can at times include a rough boat journey, ocean swell, and strong surface currents and waves.

The ship lies on its starboard side at an angle of 60 to 70 degrees, its highest point at 16 m and the deepest parts at about 30 m. Porcelain toilets can be spotted through the deck openings, while the name on the bow is now encrusted with coral. Penetration is strictly prohibited and entering the wreck can bring a fine, and a protected zone covers all sea and seabed within 797 m of it.

Spotted eagle rays cruise above and around the wreck, often in schools, and green turtles feed or sleep around it between trips to the surface to breathe. Chevron barracuda hang between the safety stops at 5 to 10 m and the top of the wreck at 15 m, while bull sharks cruise 20 to 30 m out, just beyond view. Maori wrasse come in to inspect divers, then dip through the nearest hole when a camera comes up.

The wreck suits experienced divers: its position is exposed, and the current is usually noticeable and has to be built into the dive plan, with strong currents at depth possible and down-currents rare but not unknown. Dives reach 28 m, and with the depth and the current an Advanced Open Water card, or the course under way, is required, along with at least 10 logged dives and a minimum age of 15.