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It's taken 67 years for searchers to find the Australian wartime hospital ship Centaur, which was discovered 30 nautical miles east of Moreton Island just before Christmas by the crew of the Seahorse Spirit. Lying at a depth of over 2,000 metres the Centaur is now a memorial to 296 crew and passengers after it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during WWII. Due to the sensitivity of the wreck there will be an exclusion zone placed around it so divers will not be allowed to view the historic shipwreck.
However, Sunshine Coast divers have a shipwreck closer to home they are able to view. Four year ago, the HMAS Brisbane was scuttled off the Sunshine Coast in Australia. The former navy destroyer served admirably in both the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Finally, after 34 years of service, the craft was decommissioned in 2001. A couple of years later, in 2003, the Australian government accepted the hors de combat destroyer for sinking off of the Sunshine Coast. It will now and forever serve as an educational diving site as well as an exciting artificial reef for those divers staying in Sunshine Coast accommodation. In the four years since the ship was scuttled, the HMAS Brisbane has been a blessing to the people of the Sunshine Coast not only for the positive effects it has had on the region’s marine life but also for the benefits to the local tourism industry. According to their own reports, the annual tourism income now exceeds eighteen million dollars a year. It has also been reported that since its sinking, more than 20,000 divers have visited and paid homage to the old destroyer at the bottom of the sea. This make the Brisbane one of the most visited artificial reefs in modern history.
But the new reef is responsible for more than just attracting tourists from nearby Sunshine Coast accommodation and diving enthusiasts, it is also of great interest to the local scientific community. In fact, scientists from local universities have concluded that the sheer number of fish and marine life that have been drawn to the reef is astounding. According to them, they were able to identify more that 150 species of fish and other sea organisms that were living in and on the wreck. The state government is currently funding the collection and analysis of information on the occupants of the sunken ship.
After years under water, the destroyer is now covered in barnacles, colorful red and yellow sponges, lace corals, hydroids and oysters. It has also become a sanctuary for sea urchins, crayfish, star fish, and, as well as hundreds of species of fish including the snapper, kingfish and cod.
If you are interested in seeing the old ship close up, there are a few fast facts you should know. The HMAS Brisbane lies at a depth of about 27 metres and takes approximately twenty minutes to reach from the nearest dive training centre. The water is crystal clear and reaches temperatures of up to 27 degrees Celsius during the summer.
The ships itself is 133 metres long, which makes it the largest artificial reefs or diveable wrecks on the continent. Depending upon your level of experience, you may actually be able to explore the inside of the ship with a guide. Most Sunshine Coast diving centres offer regular early morning trips and afternoon excursions as well as night dives.
But before you check the tanks and fit the flippers, you will need to make an appointment. As we mentioned earlier, the HMAS Brisbane is one of the world’s most popular artificial diving sites, and you must make a reservation at least a week in advance. Because dives may be cancelled due to inclement weather, it is best to call the diving company the day before your expedition is scheduled. If your trip is cancelled, the company will refund you deposit or help you schedule a new diving date if you can fit it into your busy holiday schedule.
Book your HMAS Brisbane Dive Accommodation Here
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