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Date: May 2006
Location: Townsville, Queensland Australia
Home to two of Queensland's best dive sites, one of which is the world-class Yongala wreck, tropical Townsville is a hotspot for those keen to check out the underwater scene.
Yongala and Wheeler's Reef are the diving drawcards, and the north Queensland
city also offers plenty of dive experiences, great value accommodation and a year
round summer climate to round off the perfect diving holiday.
The Yongala Wreck is located approximately 89km southeast of the city and is Australia's
most popular dive and one of the world's top 10.
Undiscovered for almost 50 years, the coral-encrusted structure attracts a prolific variety of colourful marine life and is an unforgettable swim for novice and experienced divers alike.
Adrenalin Dive is one of the local companies specialising in dives to the wreck
and is Townsville's longest established day trip provider. The trip out to the
Yongala site includes a three hour boat cruise sailing by Magnetic
Island, historic lighthouses and the bird colonies of Cape Bowling Green.
Adrenalin Dive Owner Paul Crocombe said the wreck offered some of the best dives in the world and some of the cheapest diving around.
There's always something new to see at Yongala and that's what makes it such a unique experience. Some of the highlights of the wreck would definitely be the toilets and the port holes, which are a window into the marine life, Mr Crocombe said.
The perfectly circular Wheeler Reef provides another world-class diving experience a little closer to shore. With almost two square kilometres of crevasses to explore, this isolated reef is surrounded by beautiful white sand stretching into the depths of the Coral Sea. There are spectacular displays of tropical marine life and coral structures for divers to explore as they swim amongst giant morays or reef sharks on this truly magical reef.
Wheeler Reef is also rated as one of the best night dives on the Great Barrier Reef as an array of crustaceans, bull rays, white-tip sharks and eels are all on view.
Townsville diving cruises vary in length from one day to a week, and range in price from $74 to $645. The longer trips combine visits further offshore to the Great Barrier Reef and others head into the Coral Sea.
Magnetic Island is another popular diving destination easily accessible from Townsville. A 20-minute catamaran ride from the mainland will take you to this tropical island where you can dive straight off the shore.
There are a number of other operators in the region offering a variety of dive experiences.
Barrier Reef Dive Cruise & Travel offers one-day outer Barrier Reef dive and snorkel trips as well as three-day live-aboard experiences and PADI courses. They also offer white-water rafting on the mighty Tully River.
Specialising in extended diving trips to the Outer Barrier Reef and the Historic SS Yongala Wreck, Pro Dive Townsville also offers a full range of dive courses, from Open Water to Instructor.
Remote Area Dive offers an experience combining diver training with camping safaris on remote, secluded islands and the pristine beaches of Bowen. Focussing on personalised classes, student to instructor ratios are kept to a maximum of five to one.
Great beaches, snorkelling and diving are all on offer with Sunferries, Sunsea Cruises and Sunsea Dive. Lounge on the deck on your way to the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist on board.
Family-owned Tropical Diving operates day and live-aboard diving and snorkelling trips to some of the most pristine reefs around. The also have a great variety of PADI courses available.
In less than 40 minutes, Yongala Dive will transport you to the SS Yongala Wreck - check out the amazing array of sea life and artefacts.
- By Sue Fuller
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