PADI Ex-HMAS Brisbane Specialty Course

PADI Ex-HMAS Brisbane Specialty Course

Duration: Approximately 6 hours

Meeting point: Sunreef at The Wharf, Mooloolaba

Price: $499 including two dives on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane (charter fees plus tanks and weights) and full academics, Ex-HMAS Brisbane slate, the book HMAS Brisbane Queensland’s Coral Warship by Nigel Marsh, an Ex-HMAS Brisbane T-Shirt, PADI Ex-HMAS Brisbane Certification Card, and credit towards your Master Scuba Diver rating

If you need to hire gear, or would like to combine this with a Nitrox (Enriched Air) Course,  please see our booking form for more information.

Prerequisite: You will need to hold a PADI Adventure Diver certification or equivalent. You must be 15 years or older and be an adequate swimmer, feel comfortable in the water, and in good physical health. You may be required to get a medical clearance before starting the course, please see below to see if this applies to you.

What you can expect

This course is designed to familiarise divers with the history of the former guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane and the project of scuttling the vessel. You will also become proficient in the ecology of its artificial reef, now teeming with life in an ecosystem that’s developed so much over the years.

Check in at Sunreef starts at the time outlined on your confirmation email or text. When you arrive, we will see you at our check in desk and ensure that your gear is organized. If you bring your own gear, our crew can carry it down to the dock and set it up for you, or if you prefer you will be free to do it yourself. If we know you are hiring gear, everything will be organized for you prior to check in.

On departure to the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, our trained crew will provide a thorough briefing for all our divers about the Ex-HMAS Brisbane site and will answer any questions you may have about it. Once the boat exits the calm waters of the Mooloolaba River system, it is around a 15 minute ride to the site. The vessel will be moored and our crew will help you set up to get in the water.

Each dive is planned to last for either 50 minutes or will end to have you on the surface with 50 bar (whichever one comes first), while also taking into consideration the skills that need to be completed by all student divers in your group.

Every dive is different depending on the conditions that day and time.

Between dives, we will come up for a surface interval where you are provided snacks and water. Feel free to bring along your own snacks if you have allergies or would like more substantial food.

The divers then return to the shop, where we will have refreshments and hot wedges or chips ready for you while we debrief. While this is happening we will unload the vessel and wash all your gear for you if you so wish.

Read more about the Ex-HMAS Brisbane dive site and her history.

Course content

You will have an introduction to how wreck dives also serve as artificial reefs, and how they encourage a greater respect for the marine environment. We emphasize fun, safety and awareness throughout all aspects of this course.

Two dives on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane are included in this course. This site has thriving marine life, pleasant year-round diving conditions and ease of access to the main deck as well as the inner hulls of the vessels. You will learn to navigate this site through exploring the outside and inside of the vessel.

Scuba diving equipment

Air tanks and weights are included in the course, however please see the below list of dive equipment needed:

• Dive computer/watch
• TORCH
• Slate and pencil (not available for hire)

If you have all your own equipment, please remember that to dive the Ex-HMAS Brisbane during the day you must have a snorkel, computer, SMB, a whistle, and a torch along with the rest of your scuba equipment (BCD, tanks, weights regulators, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, gloves).

If you do not have all the above listed gear, it will be available for either hire or purchase from our shop.

Take advantage of the Sunreef Student Diver Discount to purchase necessary gear. The Sunreef shop has many options to purchase all the above listed gear, your PADI Dive Instructor or the Sunreef shop crew will help you with finding the best options for you, and give you recommendations on everything you need.

Student Divers please read the following

To enroll in an Ex-HMAS Brisbane Specialty course you must be 15 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health.

Prerequisite: Minimum PADI Adventure Diver or equivalent.

Required forms: Each diver must complete a Sunreef PADI Continuing Education Enrollment Form before starting this course with us. This will be sent out to you with your booking confirmation. When booking in for your PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Course you will receive a link to a waiver. If you answer “YES” to certain medical questions on this waiver, you will need to receive a medical statement from your doctor. Please read our Terms and Conditions for more information.

Course confirmations: The course dive will depend on the sea conditions and weather. We will monitor this closely and if the weather or sea conditions are unsuitable, we will let you know as soon as we can. We will send out an email and text message the day before your trip around 3:30 pm to inform you of the status of the trip and its departure time. If you do not receive the text message and email you must call us on +61 7 5444 5656 we will not call you to confirm receipt of the messages. 

Seasickness and equalization: If you find yourself dealing with seasickness or being unable to equalize, our crew will look after you and ensure you are comfortable and safe. However, as this is not something in our control we will not issue any rebookings or refunds for inability to equalize or being seasick and not completing dives. We suggest you consider seasickness tablets to minimize the risk of seasickness affecting your trip. We will attempt where possible to help you equalize as we descend however we are responsible for the safety of all members of our groups therefore if we cannot in sufficient time and with the safety of the other divers help you descend we will take you back to the surface and you will be unable to complete that dive, we will however where possible take you back in on the second dive and help you try again.

Parking: The Wharf complex has 4 hour parking available, however you will need to find suitable parking for the tour you are on as some of our trips will be over 4 hours. There are some unlimited parking spaces available outside of The Wharf Mooloolaba / SEA Life car park, however please keep in mind especially if you are on an 11:30 am or later trip that parking can get very busy. Please give yourself at least 15-20 minutes for parking. You can find a parking map of The Wharf Mooloolaba here.