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, the less dived sites that your buddies haven’t been to with Scuba Shane. By choosing to go with Scuba Shane, you’ll experience these mysterious reefs and wrecks within the comfort of a fast and modern boat, 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.

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 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 batfish and butter bream and a large range of coral species like cod, angelfish, beaked coral fish, clownfish, 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.

Diving within Moreton Bay can have its challenges. Whilst, Smith Rock is in shallow depths it is an advanced dive site. Dropping only to 21 metres at its deepest point and averaging around 18 metres, and also that it has 20 metres average visibility, there are challenges to this dive site that make it completely inappropriate for novice divers.  The main problems are connected to the swell and strong currents that are common in the area so even advanced divers are advised to dive when the water is slack.

Moreton Bay diving famous 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 sulphur, 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 the 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. Moreton Bay diving at its best!

Moreton Bay diving brings us to Henderson Rock which is located 4.5 km from the ocean side of North Moreton Island and consists of extensive granite outcrops. From the top of the pinnacle, which lies in about 12 m, the rock drops gradually at first but then more steeply to about 24 m. Before the 24m mark there are several ledges, overhangs, and caves whose entrances are often obscured by thick kelp. To the south and east of the base of the pinnacle there is a long deep gutter that leads roughly south to about 22m and it is here that grey nurse sharks are often encountered. The areas is characterised with Kelp beds on the western site and bare rock on the top going in to 2 m high walls with swim-through hidden in them. There are also large caverns further out in water around 25m deep.

Cherubs-cave is a true jewel among Moreton Bay dive sites and is located on the east side of Moreton Island. It’s a hidden cave which is surrounded by rocky gullies and smaller caves and measures around 15 by 20 m in the accessible area and about the same in the inaccessible part. With 20-30 m depth this site is for the more experienced divers to enjoy the beauty of sea life including big schools of fish, turtles, wobbegong, critters and crawlers and the grey nurse sharks that just love this spot.

Further, a small concrete cherub once marked the main entrance to this hidden cave off Moreton Bay. 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, kingfish and trevally, patrol the area, and divers will also encounter turtles, gropers and wobbegong sharks.

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. Above all, winter is the best time to dive to China Wall as the conditions are general calm and grey nurse sharks are often seen patrolling the gutters.

Finally, during winter you are likely to be surrounded by humpback whales, and if lucky you may catch a glimpse of one of these giant mammals.

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 is available.
• Your hire equipment is brought to the boat, saving you time and money.

Importantly, this is a major part as to why I can charge for 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 on your adventure.

Otherwise, you can contact me on 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!

Please note, that these dive trips are for divers that have a little bit more experience than the freshly certified open water diver. This dive site is very remote and is cancelled 50% of the time. SAFETY is our number one priority and we take great care in making the right weather call. If the dive is cancelled prior to departing, you will be offered a credit or a refund.

• 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 certified
• Must have logged a minimum of 10 dives
• Must have dived from a boat
• Complete the online waiver (Home page)
• Enjoy dad jokes

Why did the tomato blush?

Because it saw the salad dressing!