Dive Australia’s Most Historic Shipwreck the SS Yongala!
Dive Australia’s Most Historic Shipwreck the SS Yongala!

THE SS YONGALA

 

The Dive Site

The S.S. YONGALA sank in a cyclone on the 23rd March 1911 and remained undiscovered for almost 50 years, not being positively identified until 1958. The wreck now lies on its starboard side in 14-28 metres of water and at 109m long is the largest and most intact, historic shipwreck in Australian waters.

She sank just 12 nautical miles off the coast of Cape Bowling Green in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with the loss of all 122 passengers.  Exactly what happened we will never know – although research indicates the vessel was steaming, the fact no life rafts were found indicate the loss of the Yongala was sudden and tragic.

It has now become known as one of the world’s top wreck dives and certainly one of Australia’s best dive sites due to the prolific variety of marine life. Giant Queensland gropers hang beneath the stern while schools of trevally and cobia congregate around the depths of the wreck. Queenfish, barracuda, turtles, sea snakes, eagle rays and clown fish are just some of the other incredible life inhabiting the coral encrusted structure.

The Great Barrier Reef is the most bio-diverse ecosystem on the planet including over 1500 species of fish and 350 different types of coral. The Yongala wreck has now become an artificial reef with more varieties of coral growing on it than most natural reef systems. It is also host to a huge diversity of pelagic and reef species found in the Coral Sea. You will see more fish in one dive on the wreck than ten on the reef. It’s certainly a dive experience you will never forget.

Dive Information

Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres) but Advanced Open Water is an advantage.

Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site

Depth ranges from 6 – 28 metres

EAN (nitrox) is included!

Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience


Trip Dates

Australia Day long weekend  Thursday, 23 – Monday, 27 January 2020

Price

$2,500 per diver with flights included  ($550 for flights including additional bag as of 26/06/2019)

$1,950 per diver without flights 

 

What’s Included
Return flights from Brisbane to Townsville – if flights included
4 nights accommodation at Alva Beach/ Alva Beach Tourist Park
3 triple boat dives (9 dives) on Australia’s most iconic shipwreck and at Stanley Reef including a night dive on the Yongala! Lunch on all dive days

2 bags per person (1 clothes and 1 dive gear) – if flights included
Private van transfers from Townsville to Ayr and transport for the duration of the trip
Personal Divemaster and PDS tour leader for the group
Nitrox fills for all dives and weights

 

What’s Excluded

All Dive Gear (excluding tanks & weights)
Travel Insurance
Personal spending money
Excess luggage surcharge
All Meals apart from lunch on dive days

Gear Hire

PDS is able to with a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks and weights for the weekend and please communicate your requirements on the booking form. Each diver must provide their own mask, snorkel, fins and boots (not available for hire). Underwater camera and torches are also available and are subject to availability.

The hire gear will be part of your luggage allowance and will travel with you and we will need to arrange to give this to you prior to the trip. Alternatively, gear hire can be arranged from the operator.

Itinerary

Day 1
The group will travel on the same flight unless alternate arrangements have been made. Upon arriving in Townsville we will be collected and our group whisked away to Alva Beach and Yongala Dive, where we will stay for the duration of the trip.

 Day 2 , 3 & 4

3 dives in the morning each day and then you will return to Yongala Dive. Lunch is included on all dive days. We will mainly be diving the Yongala wreck but we will also be diving at Stanley Reef. A VERY rarely dived pristine reef within an hour’s travel of the Yongala wreck. Will will also be doing a night dive (conditions dependent) which is truly incredible! A world famous wreck, pristine healthy reef and nitrox for all of your dives!

 Day 5
Morning at leisure. We will leave Alva Beach to be back at Townsville Airport by 12.30pm to check in for any departing flights.

(Due to the depths you will be diving at, we must leave 18 hours between your last dive and your departing flight. Due to our last dive on Sunday we are unable to depart Townsville any earlier)

 Specialities Suitable for this trip
Advanced Open Water
Nitrox
Deep Diver
Digital Underwater Photographer
Underwater Photographer
Self Reliant Diver
Peak Performance Buoyancy

Underwater Naturalist

HOW TO BOOK
Click here to be taken to our shopping cart where you can book online.

3 Comments

Leave a Comment

%d bloggers like this: