HMAS Brisbane Sunshine Coast Scuba Diving Reports
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Dive HMAS Brisbane Report 2nd to 9th April 2009
The cyclone has whipped up some big swells that are keeping the surfers happy at the moment. It’s not much joy for the divers though. This past week or so has produced a fair bit of swell and no diving on HMAS Brisbane apart from what has gone on in the pool and at the lake.
It doesn’t look too bright for diving this weekend either. The swell is
predicted to continue. Let’s hope all of the forecasters are wrong, but
the swell will need to drop for us to venture out to dive HMAS Brisbane.
We are proud to announce that we have just completed out first PADI
I.D.C. for some time and there are now 5 newly qualified instructors
and one assistant instructor on the scene now. Congratulations to all
of you guys, you put in a great effort and thanks to Tony Fontes for
conducting the program. We are currently planning our next IDC for
later in the year. We’ll keep you posted.
This is a time to check out all of your dive gear. Check that mask
strap; those fin straps, the test stamp on your scuba cylinder and the
date of your last reg service. Make sure that all is in good order and
ready to go once this weather breaks. Call the dive centre on 07 5444 5656 for details or email to
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Dive HMAS Brisbane Report update 16th March 2009
Dive Report: There was no evidence of any oil/sludge fallout on the Inner Gneerings on Sunday.
Viz at The Caves was 5-8 metres and water temp. was on 24C. Seas were flat and there was no surge at all. It is just amazing how quickly the sea settled after cyclone Hamish and just goes to prove that those who sit on their hands waiting for a week of clear weather before booking a dive end up missing out.
Sunshine Coast Beach Recovery - Update 4
Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) has advised that the Beach Recovery Program has progressed effectively this weekend, with approximately 85% of the oil spillage removed from affected Sunshine Coast beaches. All heavy machinery has now been removed and emergency and council staff are continuing the clean up process by hand.
At this stage, 17 of 25 Sunshine Coast beaches are open and providing a clean and safe swimming environment for residents and visitors. EPA has advised to date only 17 birds or animals are known to be affected by the oil spill.
Tourism operations which remain unaffected as at 5pm, 16 March 2009
Sunshine Coast beaches which are open:
Bribie Island
Bulcock Beach
Kings Beach
Dicky Beach
Mooloolaba 1 Catamarans
Mooloolaba Spit
Mooloolaba Main Beach
Alex Headland
Maroochydore Beach
Hyatt Regency Coolum Beach
Coolum Beach
Coolum North Beach
Peregian Beach
North Peregian Beach
Sunrise Beach
Sunshine Beach
Noosa Main Beach
Please note Lake Currimundi and Currimundi Dam are also open and have not been affected.
Upcoming Sunshine Coast events are due to proceed as normal, including the continued activities for the Noosa Festival of Surfing, 15 – 22 March 2009 and the Mooloolaba Triathlon scheduled to commence 27 March 2009.
Please note, Coolum Beach was previously closed by lifesavers due to foam not the presence of oil. There is currently ocean foam and tannin lying on the surface of the water across certain stretches of the Coast’s beaches as a result of Cyclone Hamish which should not be confused with oil residue.
The PADI IDC, instructor course, is scheduled for March and there are still spaces available for anyone wishing to embark on an exciting career that gives you a qualification and hence an ability to work, that is recognised the world over. Call the dive centre on 07 5444 5656 for details or email to
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Dive HMAS Brisbane Report 16th March 2009 Cyclone Hamish
Cyclone Hamish has left its mark on our coastline but has had only a short term bad effect on Fishing Boating and Diving along the Coast. Watch this space for up dates as the clean up continues.
After extensive communication with the E.P.A. on Friday and consultaion regarding public health issues, we decided we would venture out on Saturday morning with a group of experienced divers from Melbourne, to the HMAS BRISBANE. We really did not know what to expect. We briefed the group stating that we may not be able to get in the water because of the oil spill but all were keen to go and check things out. We did hold some hope though as aerial surveys on Friday reported that the spill was confined to the shoreline extending out up to 300 metres from the shore.
Much to everyone's surprise, there was no evidence of the oil spill at this site. The ship seems to be far enough east to have avoided any hint of the spill. The ship itself, after such a battering from the big swells, is in great shape. The only damage noticed was a couple of sections of side railing that have been dislodged and is hanging over the side of the ship. Apart from that, all the marine life is still there. The bait fish are there, the kingies, the anenemoes, the guitar fish, kthe corals etc. are all still there.
Visibility was 8 metres in the morning and 10 metres on the afternoon dive. There was still some surge through the wreck, which is no surprise but what was a surprise was that the water temperature had dropped 3C to 24C.
Diving on the local reef is a different story, We haven't ventured out there yet, due to the surge effect from the left over Hamish swells. It will be interesting to see if there is any residue of the oil on our local reefs. Although our dive boat did a swoop past Mudjimba Island (Old Woman Island), it was not safe to get close enough to see if there was any oil spill around the island. We will check again as the swell drops and the boat can safely approach for a closer inspection.
The clean up of the oil spill on the beaches is continuing and many of the surfing beaches were reopened yesterday with more due to be reopened today. Some thanks to the government for finally acting but more thanks to our mayor, Bob Abbott, who is a "doer" and just got in there on day 1 and started the clean up. The clean up of the rocky headlands will take a longer, more concerted effort. There is no doubt that much damage has been done in these areas.
The PADI IDC, instructor course, is scheduled for March and there are still spaces available for anyone wishing to embark on an exciting career that gives you a qualification and hence an ability to work, that is recognised the world over. Call the dive centre on 07 5444 5656 for details or email to
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Dive HMAS Brisbane Report 12th March 2009 to 19th March 2009
After some fantastic dive conditions with near flat seas and great visibility last week, it has certainly turned around for the worst with the cyclone buzzing around off the coast.
The prospect of diving the HMAS Brisbane on the weekend looked pretty grim a couple of days ago but is improving by the hour. Although there will be a bit of left over swell, it looks as though it will be diveable on both Saturday and Sunday.
It will be interesting to see how all of the marine have weathered the heavy swell caused by the cyclone. All of those guys down there, swimming this way one minute and then that way the next, the poor little blighters will be tired out.
Before the swell arrived, there was great life on the HMAS BRISBANE with heaps of bait fish and a lot of bigger stuff chasing them. A couple of huge Leopard Rays have been seen a number of times, just gliding over the wreck as well. The site is developing into an amazing eco system of its own with changing residents depending on weather, visibility, water temperature and ocean currents. It’s great to note the changes.
The PADI IDC, instructor course, is scheduled for March and there are still spaces available for anyone wishing to embark on an exciting career that gives you a qualification and hence an ability to work, that is recognised the world over. Call the dive centre on 07 5444 5656 for details or email to
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Dive HMAS Brisbane Report 24 February 2009 to 2nd March 2009
The swell dropped to nothing over the weekend with only slight residual surge. The Gneering Shoals turned on 10-15 metres visability (viz) which was great to see after all the rain we have had recently.
The diving on HMAS BRISBANE came up with improved viz as the week drew on giving the divers 15 metres (average) on Sunday morning. Heaps of fish and marine life made the dive one to remember. Water temperature was on 26C which is just perfect.
The Grey Nurse shark hadn’t revisited and the manta ray was obviously just passing through. Hopefully these critters will tell there mates and the HMAS BRISBANE will become a regular ‘stop over’ for them as they treck up and down the coast.
The prediction for this week shows a few windy days. This is when we really hope that all the forecasters are wrong but we may have to wait till Friday or Saturday to get back into the water.
The PADI IDC, instructor course, is scheduled for March and there are still spaces available for anyone wishing to embark on an exciting career that gives you a qualification and hence an ability to work, that is recognised the world over. Call the dive centre on 07 5444 5656 for details or email to
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