Yongala Dive is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort located south of Townsville, in the central Great Barrier Reef, specialising in diving the SS Yongala Wreck, consistently voted one of the world’s greatest wreck dives.
The Yongala Wreck is the largest, most intact historic shipwreck in Australian Waters, 109 metres long and home to mega marine life just waiting for you to explore. Fully protected in its marine protected area, it is renowned as one of the world’s best dive sites due to the size and variety of marine life – everything is BIG.
Yongala Dive is located on the grounds of Alva Beach Tourist Park, at Alva Beach, Ayr, 1.5 hours drive south of Townsville (2 hours north of Airlie Beach). Accommodation is right on the beach, a 10 min 4WD and fast 30 min boat ride to the dive site.
Transfers from Ayr are available at 10:30 am 3:40 pm daily but must be pre-booked. Early transfers at 7:30am may also be arranged at a cost of AUD 25.
Accommodation options at Alva Beach Tourist Park include Dorm rooms, Budget Cabins with shared facilities and Deluxe Ensuite Self Contained Cabins. The park features a swimming pool, camp kitchen, laundry, kiosk and amenities. The deluxe cabins are modern, air-conditioned, and very comfortable.
Also, suitable for a small group.
The ‘Yongala Dive experience’ takes you by 4WD transfer to the beach launch followed by a fast 30-minute boat trip, amazing diving with small groups, experienced dive staff and the day finished off with an Aussie BBQ.
Over 100 years ago the Steam Ship Yongala sank in a cyclone (a year before the Titanic). One of the most tragic maritime disasters in Australia, now the Yongala lives on in harmony with the marine environment.
Located just 12 nautical miles from Alva Beach, the wreck lies on its starboard side, 14 metres deep on the top and 28 metres on the sand. It’s the largest, most intact historic shipwreck in Australian Waters, 109 metres long and home to mega marine life just waiting for you to explore.
Renowned as one of the world’s best dive sites due to the size and variety of marine life – everything is BIG. Giant Queensland gropers, giant marble rays and giant trevally as big as you, eagle rays, turtles, olive sea snakes, several species of sharks as well as huge schools of barracuda and bat fish on a coral encrusted wreck combine to make this a ‘bucket list’ dive.
Yongala Dive also run day trips to Stanley Reef, the only operator with access to this part of the Reef, and to Jason deCaires Taylor’s Museum of Underwater Art.
