MORETON BAY DIVING

Moreton Bay diving is renowned for its world class diving, but typically these dives tend to take place on just a few common, more generic dive sites. This allows you to only scrape the surface of what Moreton Bay diving has in store! Boat operators tend to rarely visit some of the more exotic and harder to navigate sites that offer an even more broad experience of what Moreton Bay is really all about. Experience the less explored, less dived sites that your buddies haven’t been to with Scuba Shane’s “select” sites. By choosing to go with Scuba Shane, you’ll experience these mysterious reefs and wrecks within the comfort of a fast and modern boat, “The Voyager”, with a feast of a lunch (dietary catered), soft drinks all day, and even beers for the way home. A Scuba Shane guide is also provided for the day to help out, and to make sure you don’t miss a thing! For those that are Nitrox certified, Enriched Air tanks are filled and at the ready!  Become one of only a handful of divers who have explored these sites by booking today with Scuba Shane.

The Marietta Dal was a 7500 tonne liberty ship built in the USA in 1944 and is one of the most interesting shipwrecks off Moreton Bay, Brisbane. Indeed, on May 15 1950, the 140 metre long ship was carrying a cargo of sulfur, oil, tractors and other general cargo when it ran aground on Smith Rock. Furthermore, any hopes of salvaging the ship and cargo were quickly abandoned when the vessel broke in two.

Completely broken up, the remains of the Marietta Dal are now found in 10 metres to 18 metres and make for a fascinating dive. Indeed, scattered over a wide area of Smith Rock the main section of wreckage contains a twisted pile of plates, beams and the long prop shaft. However, the most interesting part of the wreck is the cargo of tractors, which look like small tanks with their caterpillar tracks. Furthermore, even without the remains of the ship this is a wonderful dive as there are ledges, caves and gutters packed with marine life.

With the right conditions, Moreton Bay diving can put on a world class show, without travelling abroad.

Details provided by Brisbane Scuba

Importantly, Smith’s Rock off Moreton Bay, has three pinnacles, the highest rises to about 6 metres below the surface; their jagged granite beauty belies their treachery to the shipping fraternity. Indeed, it may not be as pretty as Flinders Reef but it has a rugged honeycombed terrain and plenty of structure that attracts a profusion of fish. Furthermore, with a maximum depth of around 20 metres the most interesting features sit around 15 metres. Good visibility will reveal large schools of bat fish and butter bream and a large range of coral species like cod, angelfish, beaked coral fish, clown fish, and damsels. Above all, if you like the big stuff then wobbegong sharks, turtles and spotted rays frequent the area. In particular, during the migration season you will hear the whales.

What else could you ask from a dive trip to Morton Bay, Brisbane?

Details provided by Brisbane Scuba

Henderson Rock, on the eastern side of Moreton Island, is one of Brisbane’s better and less frequented dive sites. In particular, with lots of deep ledges, overhangs and caves hiding behind kelp, these mysterious rocks have many secrets to be discovered. Indeed, keep an eye out for the ornate crayfish, prolific in this area, and grey nurse sharks, who enjoy schooling up in the main gutter during the winter months. Furthermore, with reef fish darting among the kelp, other species of shark, including brown-banded cat sharks and wobbegong, also frequent the area.

Details provided by Brisbane Scuba

A small concrete cherub once marked the main entrance to this hidden cave off Moreton Island. Indeed, while the guardian has since disappeared, this underwater world remains to be discovered by the adventurous diver. Moreover, Cherub’s Cave is a large, circular cave, roughly 20 by 15 metres, with six exits providing a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ style dive. Therefore, the entire area is surrounded by rocky gullies, smaller caves and overhangs to explore. Pelagic life, including barracuda, king fish and trevally, patrol the area, and divers will also encounter turtles, gropers and wobbegong sharks. Most importantly, Grey Nurse sharks gather in the gutters at Cherub’s Cave over winter, and make for very interesting dive companions.

Details provided by Brisbane Scuba

Indeed, located on the exposed eastern side of Brisbane’s Moreton Island, China Wall is an unusual dive site for the area as the reef is dominated by kelp rather than coral. Moreover, waving beds of brown kelp are more common in southern Australia and these ones look very out of place with tropical fish swimming around them.

However, China Wall also has many pretty soft corals, gorgonians and black coral trees decorating its rocky terrain. Importantly, in depths from 16 metres to 32 metres this site has numerous caves, gutters, walls and a very pretty rock arch. In particular, in and around the kelp beds expect to see abundant reef fish, bullseye, yellow tail, trevally, king fish, blue gropers, wobbegongs and turtles. Above all, winter is the best time to dive China Wall as the conditions are general calm and grey nurse sharks are often seen patrolling the gutters.

Finally, during winter divers are also likely to be serenaded by humpback whales for the entire time underwater, and if lucky may catch a glimpse of one of these giant mammals.

Details provided by Brisbane Scuba

Above all, our hire equipment is at the highest standard, including the integrated BCD and computer consoles. Indeed, diving on 230 bar Faber scuba steel tanks, the Ferrari of the scuba tank, is something that is offered by us. Not to mention, your hire equipment will be brought to the launch point. This will save you time and money by not coming to the centre prior to your diving adventure. Finally, the flexibility that Shane can offer is yet another extra that no one else can offer. Have you got a group of 4? Well, this is all you need to create your own trip with Scuba Shane Diving.

Now, Let’s Get Wet!

• Refreshments during the surface interval with tea, coffee, cold water and a range of soft drinks.
• A free beer on the way home.
• Wraps for lunch – GF and Vege on request.
• Opportunity to snorkel on the surface interval.
• Any marine park fees.
• Shower and toilet on board.
• Nitrox available.
• Your hire equipment brought to the boat, saving you time and money.

Importantly, this is a major part as to why I can charge one of the cheapest scuba courses and dive trips in Brisbane. Indeed, I have selected not to pay a payment/booking software fee. Here, I save on the annual subscription and a commission fee. Normally, charged at around 2% of your final fee. As a result, I have passed the savings onto YOU!

So, scroll down and click on the BOOK NOW tag. Here, you will complete a couple of questions which will be sent to me by email. Afterwards, I’ll reply with any inquiries you may have and the payment/dive details to enrol onto your adventure.

Otherwise, you can contact me through Facebook

Finally, give me a call, if you haven’t heard from me within 24 hours. Let’s get you onto your underwater adventure, as soon as possible!

LET”S GET WET!

• Departs 6:00 am
• Returns 3:30 pm
• Double Dive with refreshments (excl tanks) ($199.00)
• Scuba, computer and safety equipment – ($70.00)
• Air 230 bar Faber tanks ($40.00) – OR
• Nitrox 32% 230 bar Faber ($60.00)
• Open water certification and above
• Complete the online waiver (Home page)
• Enjoy dad jokes

Why did the tomato blush?

Because it saw the salad dressing!