A new month at Yongala Dive and more good news…Yongala Dive were the proud winners of the Adventure Tourism Category in the North Queensland Tourism Awards 2011 on Friday night December 4th. We also had an added bonus of being voted Finalist in the Queensland State Tourism Awards 2011. The Yongala Dive team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to offer their best wishes for the New Year.

What a month on the Yongala, not one experience of a life time but two……firstly some of our lucky divers had whales cruising around underwater with them and a calf actually swam right up to them to check them out. Only one week later a lone whale shark, yes thats right Whale Shark came to visit – lost its way maybe ? check out our facebook page to see the video footage. Great weather towards the end of the month …. cant wait to see what November will bring…..

What a wonderful past few months we have had! Beautiful flat seas, great visibility and Humpback whales serenading divers and putting on surface displays. Lots of ‘big fish’ action with the Giant Trevallys racing over the wreck, Rays being spotted on every dive- we believe its a mating season for a few species with all the groupings and paired chasing happening. September’s Australiasian Shootout is coming up… dont forget to enter!

Our Dive Instructor Chris Salter’s comment for the day 06/07/2011 “In 1 and a half years of being here at Yongala Dive I have never, ever experienced visibility like there was today. It was fantastic!”
With flat seas and excellent visibility the wreck has been seen from the surface. Underwater the diving has been magical. With visits from Bull Sharks, Marble Rays and towards the end of the month juvenile Humpback Whales divers have had memorable experiences that will stay with them a lifetime. Check out Facebook for photos!

“AMAZING diving on the wreck at the moment…15m visibility (the best since Cyclone Yasi), no current and fish life galore… turtles, rays, giant trevally, large schools of fingermark, bull sharks and sea snakes galore etc.  While hanging on the line at the end of the dive we were completely surrounded by around 300 pinnate batfish which was so cool, while underneath a lone 2m marble ray just cruised around the wreck”    

Heather Batrick- Director

…now you don’t. A month of Mantas popping in and out of view enthralled divers, who were lucky enough to see them! One moment they were there, the next not. One day they were seen the next day they were not. For one staff member at Yongala Dive, who had yet to see a Manta on  a dive, hopes were high. After focusing the minds of all the divers onboard via chanting and facial expressions, to send out positive thought waves to entice them in…hopes were dashed after the second dive without one being seen. The next day though! Manta! You just never know at the Yongala.

What a fantastic celebration Yongala Dive had on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S Yongala. First off was a Family Fun Day where our wreath was blessed. The centenary day dawned calm and clear allowing 2 trips (24 people) to get out and share her special day. The wreath was released with a prayer and a poem by our Director and the dives were enjoyed by all. Lucky divers won commemorative merchandise and celebratory/commemorative beverages were enjoyed with a massive amount of food post dives. We are celebrating for the rest of the year with commemorative merchandise available only for this time. Dont miss out on diving the S.S Yongala in her 100th year!

Recently some divers who dived the S.S Yongala pre TC Yasi came and dropped into the water again. They were astounded at the changes on the wreck and stunned at the tenacity of some of the marine life to weather such a storm. Swimming along the wreck you cross barren open stretches of pure ship until you hit an oasis of sponges, corals and fish life. Seeing schools of bait fish teeming out of a port hole in a barren stretch is quite a sight to see. There are a couple of new “locals” we have noticed on the wreck, some Lion Fish have set up home and can be seen on most dives.  All our Staff here eagerly await the next dive to see what else we can see thats changed, why not join us!

Once again the S.S. Yongala has come through the storms Mother Nature has thrown at her……..after TC Yasi, some corals have been washed off the wreck and the steel plates, hatches and rivets have been exposed, this only makes divers feel as though they are viewing a whole new wreck! All the marine life are still happily living their lives as if the storms didn’t happen… as if they and the wreck are saying “Bring it on Mother Nature!” Dive trips are operating as usual so if you think you have seen all the Yongala has to offer come for another look…….you might get to see more than you ever have before!

• SEA CONDITIONS – may be choppy due to the location of the wreck and moderate currents can be experienced. Please take appropriate medication if you suffer from sea sickness. Sea sickness cannot be accepted as a cause of cancellation. 
• DEPARTURE – It is important to phone the Dive Shop between 3.30-5pm the day prior to your trip to confirm departure details and weather conditions. Times may vary due to tides/sea conditions.
• PAYMENTS - credit card authorisation or full payment is required on booking.
• REFUNDS - a full refund will be provided if a trip is cancelled by us due to unsuitable conditions. No refunds will be provided for cancellations by passengers within 48 hours of departure (7 days during September to January).  We are unable to guarantee visibility as it is outside of our control, no refunds will be provided in the event of poor visibility.