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SS Yongala
Also known as Yongala Wreck
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Water
Sea (Salt water)
Features Wreck, Clay Depth
22.1 m (avg)
30 m (max)
Diver Level
Advanced Only
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The SS Yongala sank in a cyclone off the coast of Queensland near Cape Bowling Green around the 23rd of March, 1911. All 122 people on board died in what is one of the worst tragedies in Australian maritime history. DiscoveryIt took 50 years for the the wreck of the Yongala to be found and positively identified. In 1943 a minesweeper fouled on what was thought to be a shoal in what would turn out years later to be the location of the Yongala. The captain of the vessel noted it on his chart but no further investigation was made until 1947. At that time the HMAS Lachlan using echo sounders and anti-submarine technology made the determination that the object was approximately 90m/300ft long and was probably the wreck of a fair sized steamer. The navy did not do any further investigation. In 1958 two divers from Townsville, Don Macmillan and Noel Cook located the wreck and retrieved a steel safe from one of the cabins. The safe had no identifying contents but did have a serial number. In 1961, the manufacturer in London was able to confirm that it was a Chubb strongbox supplied to the purser's cabin of the SS Yongala during construction in 1903. Best Time to DiveYou can dive the Yongala year round. From June thru August (Australian Winter) the water temps are lower (21-25C) but visibility is usually a little better (15-20M). From September thru December (Australian Summer) the water temperatures go up (25-30C) but visibility drops a bit to 10-15M. Getting ThereThe Yongala is most often dived from Townsville or by Liveaboard. There is also an operator that dives the Yongala from Alva Beach. What You Can SeeThe Yongala is like an oasis in the open sea. You can see Grey Nurse Sharks, Rays, Cobia, abundant reef fish, grouper and much more. There is a particularly famous grouper that can often be found at the bow of the ship nicknamed VW because of its enormous size. Dive NavigationThe bow points in a northerly direction (347º), and although it lies listing to starboard at an angle of between 60º and 70º, the vessel's structural integrity has been retained. The depth of water to the sea floor is approximately 30m/100 ft, with the upper sections of the wreck 16m/52ft below the surface. Penetration of the wreck is illegal and very costly. Murder & IntrigueIn October 2003, American Tina Watson died while diving the Yongala. Her husband of 11 days, Gabe Watson, was her dive buddy and was convicted of manslaughter in Australia. |
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Nearby Photos
Dives at this site
- SS Yongala by Rick Hartley 12 years ago
- SS Yongala by Rick Hartley 12 years ago
- SS Yongala by Rick Hartley 12 years ago
- Speechless by Rick Hartley 12 years ago
People who dived here
Top operators for SS Yongala
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Yongala Dive 22 km
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Mike Ball Dive Expeditions 329 km
Stats for this site
Nearby Dive Sites
Little Broadhurst Reef 40 km
Gothenburg Wreck 46 km
Davies Reef 53 km
Shrimp Reef 61 km
Anzac Reef 67 km