DIVE HAPPY

HMAS Brisbane was deliberately sunk to create a new artificial reef for Australian divers. Now the destroyer has become a scuba mecca for divers in Queensland

The Sydney Morning Herald carries a great article today about the HMAS Brisbane, which was sunk last July off the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and has rapidly attracted both marine life and scuba divers to come and see its new underwater home. There's a single, evocative photo with the SMH article that show a diver finning past the huge artillery gun which remains fully intact on the destroyer's bow. The articles gives the full history of how the HMAS Brisbane came to be sunk and how it's been cleaned up to make it safe for divers. Apparently you can penetrate the wreck quite safely as there are numerous holes cut to allow easy access, although careful planning and caution are always required.

HMAS Brisbane is the fourth Australian warship to be deliberately sunk. HMS Hobart lies off the coast off Adelaide, while HMAS Perth and HMAS Swan were sunk off Western Australia. I've written about diving on HMAS Swan in my article about Busselton Jetty. I'd love to go back and see the Brisbane and, further up the coast, the Yongala, a world famous wreck I waited around for 4 days to try to get to see but never got lucky with the weather.

The Herald also has a nice section detailing places to dive and surf all around Australia - useful for getting an overview of what's available, although Southern Australia appears to be strangely absent.