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Ex-HMAS Tobruk Dive Wreck
Ex-HMAS Tobruk Growing as an iconic wreck dive
Ex-HMAS Tobruk lying on its starboard side at 12m to 14m depth about 25 nautical miles from the Great Sandy Straits Marina at Hervey Bay has quickly developed as one of the Fraser Coast’s iconic tourism drawcards.
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The 127m former heavy lift Naval ship scuttled in June 2018 and available for diving eight months later is already brimming with sea life. Hundreds of divers have descended to the wreck, many from overseas, following an international marketing campaign led by Tourism & Events Queensland.
It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to reach the Tobruk from Hervey Bay and divers descend to the wreck during the slack tide in two 45-minute sessions one hour apart.
Commercially guided tours are available from operators working from both Hervey Bay and Bundaberg and dive gear is available for hire.
The Tobruk provides a great technical dive for all levels of experience and because of its former life transporting army tanks and light armoured vehicles, its passageways and internal areas are wider than other battle class military wrecks.
Visitors to the Tobruk can expect to see two-metre-long barracudas, turtles, sharks, manta rays, gropers, cod and Spanish mackerel. An octopus known by locals as “Larry” has recently taken up residence.
The ship is situated midway between Burrum Heads and Fraser Island’s Rooney Point and qualified divers using their own vessel can access the private moorings of the wreck in two-hour intervals, with bookings made online at the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg tourist organisation websites.
Visibility underwater, which is generally 15m and 25m on an excellent day, is another hallmark of the ship.
For more details, go to visitfrasercoast.com/diving-reefs
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