Category: QLD

 

 

THE DIVE SITE

HMAS Tobruk (L 50) was a Landing Ship Heavy (LSH) of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), based on the design of the Round Table-class of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Planning for the ship began in the 1970s to provide the Australian Army with a permanent sealift capability. She was laid down by Carrington Slipways in 1979, launched in 1980, and commissioned in 1981. She was a multi-purpose, roll-on/roll-off heavy lift ship capable of transporting soldiers, APCs, and tanks, and delivering them to shore via landing craft or directly by beaching.

The ship experienced problems during her early career with her engines (which differed from the British base design) and sewerage system (leading to the death of a cadet in 1981). During the 1980s, the ship delivered supplies to the Multinational Force and Observers on the Sinai Peninsula, assisted in the withdrawal from RAAF Base Butterworth, provided support and accommodation for delegates to the South Pacific Forum, and was part of the Australian response to the 1987 Fijian coups d’état. In the early 1990s, Tobruk was part of ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove, then after a refit, participated in peacekeeping efforts in Somalia. She was used for many humanitarian missions including peace keeping in Bougainville, the Solomons, Samoa after the earthquake and tsunami, assisting after cyclones Yasi and Pam and border protection detail under Operation Resolute.

Tobruk was decommissioned in Sydney on 31 July 2015. During her 34-year operational history, Tobruk sailed over 947,000 nautical miles (1,754,000 km; 1,090,000 mi), and was deployed on 26 major operations (more than any other ADF unit), leading to a reputation as the “workhorse of the RAN”.

Several entities called for the ship to be scuttled as a dive wreck. Federal Member of Parliament Keith Pitt spent several years campaigning for the scuttling of a warship in Hervey Bay as a tourist attraction, with Tobruk his preferred vessel. Another proposal came from the community of St Helens, Tasmania, for the ship to be sunk in Skeleton Bay. North Stradbroke Island (Redland Bay Council) and the Gold Coast also expressed interest.

On 2 December 2016 it was announced that Tobruk would be scuttled off the Fraser Coast, at a location halfway between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, by late 2018. As the ship awaited its scuttling, Tobruk was located between the Australian Navy Cadet Base TS Bundaberg and the Burnett Heads Marina. The ship was transported to this area in late 2016 and was used as a tourist attraction whilst undergoing preparations for scuttling.

She was sunk off the coast between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay on 29 June 2018 although instead of coming to rest upright on her keel, the ship instead rolled 90 degrees to starboard (right) and came to rest on her side like so many wrecks that were not purpose sunk. Already the sea life that has been attracted to the wreck is absolutely incredible! Come and dive a piece of Australian history with us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIVE INFORMATION

Must have your own dive torch to do these dives (rentals available) Suitable for Open Water Divers (certified to 18 metres)
Wreck certification is not a requirement to dive this site
Depth ranges from 11 – 28.5 metres
EAN (nitrox) is included for those who are certified – Must be ordered the Wednesday prior to the trip
Diving by yourself? We will buddy you up with another diver with similar experience

 TRIP DATES

Friday, 25 June to Sunday, 27 June 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRICE

Weekend Trip

$750 per person – 4 dives, nitrox (for those who are certified) and weights, 2 nights accommodation, Divemaster services if desired, return transport to Hervey Bay from Brisbane.

Enriched Air Speciality– additional $245 (total $995) – course materials (manual learning) and the services of your dive instructor

PADI Wreck diver speciality course – additional $195 (total $945 per person ) – includes course materials, 4 led dives over 2 days, and the services of your dive instructor.

PADI Wreck diver and Enriched Air speciality courses @ $1,140 per person total- includes course materials, 4 led dives over 2 days, and the services of your dive instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

All Dive Gear
Travel Insurance
Personal spending money
All meals are at your leisure

GEAR HIRE

PDS is able to provide 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. All hire gear must be organised prior to the trip date.

ITINERARY

You will be doing a maximum of 2 dives each day and these dives are usually done in the morning, allowing you to have your afternoon free. An itinerary with timings will be sent to those booked onto the trip closer to the trip date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PADI COURSES & SPECIALITIES SUITABLE FOR THIS TRIP

Advanced Open Water
Enriched Air (Nitrox) (perfect for this trip)*
Deep Diver
Digital Underwater Photographer
Underwater Photographer
Underwater Videographer
Search and Recovery
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Dry Suit Diver
Shark Awareness
Underwater Naturalist
Wreck Diver (perfect for this trip)

This is the perfect way to complete a specialty course as you have already paid for the dives!!

* The Nitrox specialty is the only specialty that you can do at the same time as another qualifying dive so this is the perfect opportunity to do two specialties in one go!

Note- Some specialties are site and conditions dependent. All efforts will be made to complete course dives on a booked trip, however if conditions do not allow it the diver will have to book onto another trip to complete the course requirements.

HOW TO BOOK

 

To book online click HERE