SS Yongala Expeditions - the Best: Mega Marine Fauna; Night Dive & Wreck on the Great Barrier Reef!

Great Barrier Reef Wreck Diving Expeditions featuring:

• Focus on diving the world famous Yongala incl a night dive,
• Each expedition will spend 2 days at Yongala,
• Australia’s largest, most intact historic shipwreck,
• Giant Queensland Groupers and sea snakes,
• Yongala sank in 1911 resting 14-28m below the surface,
• Explore the Lady Bowen Wreck*,
• Dive the SS Gothenburg Wreck*,
• Day and night dives at Wheeler Reef*,
• Amazing marine biodiversity,
• Superior vessel stability in adverse weather conditions.
  *Pending which expedition you book: not available on all trips, for more information see below.

Yongala minimum experience: 6 ocean dives.
Divers without: 5 ocean dives in last 12 months; an Advanced certification or 15 ocean dives must complete a wreck orientation.
Guided Dives:
3 dive staff will be conducting guided dives.
Weather:
If weather is not suitable for wreck, expedition will  divert to reef.

The wreck of the 115metre SS Yongala must be dived to be believed.
In its 103 years of immersion the wreck has attracted a myriad of hard and soft corals of truly amazing colors while super size marine life have made the wreck their home. She  rests in 30 metres of water on her starboard side; the uppermost deck is at 15 metres. Diver size grouper are found under the bow and stern while turtles, bull rays, sea snakes, sharks and wrasse relentlessly roam the wreck. The non-stop action provided by this spectacular concentration of marine life is truly astonishing.

A majestic ship it once was… since  the 2011 cyclone Yasi  the Yongala feels like you’re diving an amazing ship wreck instead just the world’s best marine aquarium. 70% intact, the Yongala now has exposed some bare metal on the hull  and new holes have opened giving  new points of view of what a majestic ship it once was.

Lets go diving… descending through oversize giant trevally  and batfish marvel at the Yongala shrouded in a myriad of marine life. At 15 metres you are level with the uppermost deck.  The port hull is richly adorned with multicoloured soft coral trees, whips and sponges, gently moving with the current. Enveloped in baitfish, slowly fining above this colourful parade you see all manner of fish moving amongst this colourful haven. You sense they are oblivious to your approach and realize this is something very special. This tranquility may be broken by predatory giant trevally torpedoing through the baitfish.

Descending… across the sloping deck you see companionways and compartments crowded with fish. Purple-banded angelfish blend with purple soft corals; hundreds of yellow perch hover in the current while super size coral trout observe you glide by. Turtles and venomous sea snakes foraging for food are common sightings on the wreck

Under the bow… throngs of mangrove jack and sweetlip mingle with large estuarine cod.  Moving along the sand towards the stern you are likely to see 2-metre long bull rays shadowed by schools of cobia. Large inquisitive napoleon wrasse swim by while, large chinamen and scribbled puffers peer out from under the hull. From the deck broken spars lean onto the sand, each with it’s own squadron of fish tightly bunched close by. Many species of brightly coloured nudibranch can be found.  Some of the most highly prized Yongala sightings include the family of shy 500-pound gropers, 2-metre shovelnose rays and large bull sharks. A school of sweetlip hovers above artifacts under the stern while photographers will be more attracted to the photogenic rudderless rudder section.

It never sleeps…
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the huge bull rays hanging motionless in the current during the night dive. Nitrox is recommended to maximize your diving enjoyment and safety.

 

Dive Site Guarantee!

Spoilsport’s outstanding stability minimizes disruption to your itinerary and your scuba diving experience.  If weather forces an itinerary change we divert to the best, ‘safe, accessible sites’ to ensure you get the best scuba diving available.

All itinerary details are subject to change, specific marine life cannot be guaranteed.

Photo Credits: Aaron Smith, Alison Smith, Brandon Cole, Mike Ball.

Sorry no dive site map yet.

2 Night Trip: Townsville to Townsville: 1 - 3 May 2015 *
Cabin	Price
Premium	$1692
Standard	$1545
Club	$1368
Budget	$1179

Reef Tax $18
Fuel Levy $0

3 Night Trip: Townsville to Townsville: 7 – 10 May 2015 *
Cabin	Price
Premium	$2544
Standard	$2323
Club	$2058
Budget	$1774

Reef Tax $18
Fuel Levy $0

4 Night Trips: Townsville: 3 - 7 May 2015 | 4 Night Trip: Townsville to Townsville: 10 - 14 May 2015 *
Cabin	Prices
Premium	$2812
Standard	$2564
Club	$2314
Budget	$2012

Reef Tax $18
Fuel Levy $0

Fitting extra small and extra large people can be difficult. Please bring your own equipment if concerned about fit. View Sizes chart

Itinerary