It’s been almost 16 years since ex-HMAS Brisbane was scuttled about 3km east of Mudjimba Island and the old missile destroyer is now teeming with marine life and a world-class adventure tourist attraction.
The 133m warship, which was used in the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, was de-commissioned in 2001 and sunk as a dive wreck in July, 2005.
It’s aged well at the bottom of the ocean, attracting about 200 species, and is recognised as one of the country’s best dive sites.
Sunreef Mooloolaba owner Dan Hart has visited the site “thousands of times” and says it’s the best dive site he’s seen anywhere in the world.
“Life and growth during the past 15 or so years has been awesome,” he said.
With a 300m exclusion zone for boats without permits, there has been very little interference.
“It’s got swarms of marine life and it’s a safe-haven for them,” Mr Hart said.
Kingfish, jewfish, snapper are regular pelagics there, while Queensland gropers, stingrays, grey nurse sharks also frequent the site. Macro creatures include nudibranch and two-banded anemonefish.
“The wreck is covered with life, inside and out, which makes it great,” Mr Hart said.
Warship is in great shape
Ex-HMAS Brisbane sits flat and upright on the ocean floor, with the top in 5m of water, the main deck in 15-18m and the bottom at about 27-28m.
“Almost 16 years under water would wear most things down but it’s in great nick,” Mr Hart said.
“It’s weathered time beautifully.
“Nothing has collapsed or is inaccessible, even from when it was sunk.
“You get the odd bit of railing on the outside which comes off from storms but there’s no real damage.”
The wheelhouse is at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra but essentially the rest of the ship remains.
Popular destination
Mr Hart said the wreck contributed $20million to the local economy within the first four years it was sunk and it’s still a popular destination for tourists, with between 1500 to 2000 visitors each year.
Sunreef Mooloolaba has dives there about twice a day.
It’s only a 10-minute trip from the Mooloolaba river mouth.
“It’s so accessible,” Mr Hart said. “You can go in the morning and be back by the afternoon.”
Mr Hart has dived at many sites and worked as a diver on the reef in far north Queensland, but he said this place is the best.
“I’m a bit bias but it’s my favourite dive I’ve dived all over the world. It’s awesome and being so accessible puts the cherry on top.”
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The doors were taken off the wreck to make it safer for divers, while holes were cut into the sides so visitors are always within 6m of an exit.
He said the entire ship can be viewed.
“You can go from one end to the other, through the inside, and that’s really cool to do.”
Conditions there are generally good and unlike reef diving, the wreck is still “exciting” when visibility is down to 5m.
“If you get those conditions on the wreck you can still go through it and it’s spooky,” Mr Hart said.
“It’s like a ghost train and it’s still an awesome dive.
“And when you get 30m visibility it’s unreal because you see the whole thing and it opens up.
“I love going through the inside of it and checking out all the stuff there.”
Mr Hart’s family has owned Sunreef for a decade.
He said the COVID-19 restrictions last year only had a minor impact of the number of visitors and they abided by reducing numbers on boats for social distancing.
They’re now able to cater at full capacity and Mr Hart said unlike many other destinations, the site wasn’t dependent on international tourists.
“We are fed by Brisbane visitors and always have been,” he said.
Sunreef Mooloolaba lease two of the four moorings on the wreck, with Scuba World holding one, and one being a public mooring which has to be booked through either of the dive companies.
Mudjimba waters are rich in nutrients
Mr Hart said the waters around Mudjimba Island were also popular.
“That area is really nice and unique. Around the island is a stronghold for nudibranch, a small colourful slug that some people are absolutely obsessed with. They’re like Pokemons, with so many types and they are so colourful,” he said.
“So, they have a massive following and they do bring people from overseas, just to see them.”
Mr Hart said the waters around Mudjimba Island were “super nutrient rich”, which is why there are so many of them.
Sunreef Mooloolaba does several other trips, including a once-a-week experience at Flinders Reef.
Mr Hart said the reef was as good for diving as those near Cairns and labelled it a “bit of a hidden secret”.
See www.sunreef.com.au for more information.
Ex-HMAS Brisbane
- Was put to water in Bay City, Michigan, in 1965 and was officially handed over to the Royal Australian Navy in 1967.
- The 133m long, 14m wide ship catered for more than 330 sailors.
- Deployed to the Vietnam War in the 1969 for gunline and escort duties.
- Second deployment in Vietnam War in 1971 for gunline and escort duties before Australian withdrawal. Received two battle honours for service.
- Assisted in Operation Navy Help Darwin in 1974/1975, after Cyclone Tracy caused significant damage.
- Deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 to join a naval blockade in the Gulf War.
- Regular naval exercises and port visits from the 1980s onwards.
- Decommissioned in 2001 and sunk in 2005 as a dive site near Mudjimba.
