They converged on Qld’s Sunshine Coast by car and plane for the October Long weekend escape to dive the HMAS Brisbane.

A small but committed group of divers enjoyed an Indian banquet in one of many restaurants along the bustling esplanade at Mooloolaba before retiring to our apartments in preparation for the morning dive.

We were diving the wreck of the HMAS Brisbane which was sunk to create an artificial reef and dive site just 4 years ago.  Our hosts for the weekend were Ian Mackinnon and his team from Scubaworld who looked after us superbly the whole time.

After gearing up and loading the dive boat, we received a multimedia dive brief in the comfort of the dive centre from Ian who has been operating from this location for 21 years – one of the best briefings I have ever heard…all the info you need…but not too long!

It was then onto the boat and motoring to the river mouth before the fast ride out to the HMAS Brisbane.

As you glide down the transit line from the mooring the 133m long ship appears before you as a massive shape in the water.  One of the first things you see is the impressive bow gun, often surrounded by schools of kingfish and other species.  From here you can explore the rest of ship at your leisure including the myriad of passages and naval items all over the vessel.

Between dives, Captain Mike and the crew kept us in check by finding calm water and supplying soup, coffee, tasty cheese & bacon scrolls and Moorish anzac biscuits – Yum.  Our trips to the wreck were also enhanced by breaching humpbacks, including a calf only 25m off the stern of the boat and performing dolphins who looked like escapees from Seaworld.  In fact, on most of the dives you could clearly hear the whales singing to each other!

Highlights for our group included the trip down the stack directly to the engine room where we found loads of baitfish and some lionfish that had taken up residence.  It was also fun to go up to the bow and we made sure that we had a group ‘Titanic Moment’ photo at the front of the HMAS Brisbane.  Also impressive was down under the stern where you could see the massive twin rudders of the ship which were being kept company by a school of jewfish hovering in the shadows.

While you had to be careful following George when he pointed at something…anything…what was that – we did see an number of the residents of the HMAS Brisbane including crayfish, damsels and eggs, octopus, giant grouper, batfish, trevally and a beautiful eagle ray who put on a display getting a manicure from the cleaner wrasse just behind the forward gun.

After feeding the fish on day 1, and a refuel at Hogs Breath, Paul really enjoyed the better visibility on our second excursion to the wreck which included a swim around the rudders of the warship.  Andrew & Karin, did well on the search and recovery mission for Sharyn’s new torch and we can confirm she will be buying a clip for it in the near future.

The trip was topped off by a pizza dinner overlooking the beach after taking in the NRL Grand Final over a few beers…an excellent long weekend of diving and fun.