SS YONGALA SHIPWRECK, GREAT BARRIER REEF, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA 2022

Diving the SS Yongala Shipwreck: A Journey into History

In 2022, I had the opportunity to dive at one of the world’s most famous wrecks — the SS Yongala. Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, near Ayr and Townsville, the shipwreck rests within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The SS Yongala was a passenger and cargo ship that tragically sank during a cyclone in 1911, taking all 122 passengers and crew onboard. Its wreckage remained undiscovered for over 50 years, lying 30 meters below the surface and 90 kilometers from the shore.

The dive itself is a thrilling experience. The wreck sits on a sandy seabed and has now become an artificial reef, teeming with marine life. The visibility was not the best when I went.
As we swam closer, the scale of the wreck became evident, with the steel structure covered in corals and barnacles.

Diving through the water, I encountered a mesmerizing array of sea creatures, from large groupers and giant trevally to sea turtles and even a few curious reef sharks. The sheer amount of life surrounding the wreck is astonishing — it’s as if the ship has transformed into an underwater metropolis. The currents can be strong, but with proper guidance, it’s an unforgettable dive into both history and marine wonder.

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