Yongala Dive » Scuba diving on the S.S. Yongala Wreck, Australia

Yongala Dive Pty Ltd

56 Narrah Street, Alva Beach
PO Box No. 841 Ayr
QLD 4807 Australia

Ph: +61 7 4783 1519
Fax: +61 7 4783 7277
From USA: 011 61 7 4783 1519
From USA: 011 61 7 4783 7277

Office Hours: (7 days a week)
8:00am – 5.00pm

Ayr is situated in Northern Queensland between Brisbane and Cairns, with Airlie Beach just 2 1/4 hours south and Townsville 1 1/4 hours to the north.

Travel Distances – to/from Alva Beach:

Cairns - 450 kms
Townsville – 104 kms
Proserpine – 264 kms
Mackay – 317 kms

Directions from Townsville

By Bus: Check the Greyhound Australia Timetables (Call 1300 473 946) Premier Timetables (call 133410)

Free pick-ups from Ayr are available for guests in our accommodation at either 12:40pm or 3:25pm.

By Car: Take the Bruce Highway South directly into Ayr, at the first roundabout (by the Church) turn left into Burke Street which leads into Beach Road. Continue on for approx 16kms through the cane fields until you come into Alva Beach. As you pass the Alva Beach Tourist Park take the next left into Narrah Street - the Dive shop is the last premises on the left.

Directions from Airlie Beach

By Bus: Check the Greyhound Australia Timetables

Free pick-ups from Ayr are available for guests in our accommodation at either 12:40pm or 3:25pm.

By Car:Take the Bruce Highway North, past Bowen following the signs to Ayr and head into the main street. Turn left at the 4th roundabout into Edward Street (by the Queens Hotel). At the 2nd roundabout turn right into Burke Street which leads into Beach Road. Continue for approx 16kms through the cane fields until you come into Alva Beach. As you pass the Alva Beach Tourist Park take the 1st left into Narrah Street - the Dive Shop is the last premises on the left.

RAIL AND AIR TRANSPORT

Nearest Airports :

Townsville Airport
Cnr Halifax St & Stinson Av, Garbutt (1 1/4 hours north of Ayr)
Tel No: +61 7 4727 3211

Qantas and Virgin both fly to Townsville -Local information regarding airports, distances, car hire etc. can be found at: www.australianairportguide.com/townsville/townsville-airport.php

Compare flight prices to Townsville on www.webjet.com.au

Proserpine Airport
2 hours South of Ayr (Jetstar and Virgin both fly here)

Brandon Aerodrome
light aircraft only Tel No: + 61 7 4782 5109

Nearest Rail Station:

Ayr Station
Railway Street, Ayr Tel: +61 7 4790 3930

Taxis:

Supreme Taxi’s
Tel: 131008 (local only)

Yongala Diving News

August & September – Eagle rays :)

August and September brought in some warmer weather and the start of the spring breeding on the wreck. We started to see some big schools of eagle rays with over 20 rays at a time. Some of our luckiest divers got some footage of two Leopard sharks with the male holding the female’s tale as she dragged him along.( His plan to make her tired so that he can have his way with her :-p ). As the water temp came up to 24 degrees the smaller bait fish moved in by the thousands making it very hard to see anything past them at time. The GT’s and sharks soon took care of the bait fish numbers with massive feeding action and even an olive sea snake fell victim to a Maori Wrasse. We had a pair of divers contact the Australian Natural Museum to identify a ray that baffled the gurus here at the shop and came up with a Small Eyed Stingray. They are rather rare to see, very cool.