Access update — checked 13 October 2026: Queensland Parks states that the entire Ex-HMAS Brisbane Conservation Park is closed to the public following Cyclone Alfred. The current notice covers 30 June 2026 to 31 January 2027. This end date is not confirmation of reopening: check the official closure notice before making dive plans.
The ex-HMAS Brisbane is a 133-metre former Royal Australian Navy destroyer, scuttled on 31 July 2005 as an artificial reef off Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It is a wreck-diving destination within the wider Australia diving guide, rather than a Great Barrier Reef site.
Depth, experience and dive conditions
The wreck rests in approximately 28 metres of water, around 9 km offshore from Mooloolaba. Depth and certification requirements depend on the planned part of the wreck. Conditions and visibility vary; this should not be treated as an automatically easy dive with no current.
When access is permitted again, all divers must hold a recognised qualification. Queensland Parks recommends at least 10 open-water dives and advises that inexperienced divers should not visit without a guide. Wreck penetration requires suitable training, equipment and experience; large openings are not a substitute for those requirements. Confirm the exact dive plan and depth limits with a licensed operator.
Marine life
The artificial reef supports fish, corals and other marine life. Previous sightings described on this page include turtles, eagle rays, groupers and octopus; wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed.
Boat access and permits
This is an offshore boat dive, not a shore entry. The conservation park is a restricted-access area: a permit or written authority from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is required for entry, diving or snorkelling. A normal permit arrangement does not override the current closure.
History
HMAS Brisbane served as a missile destroyer before becoming an artificial reef in 2005. Its purpose-sunk layout makes it a well-known Sunshine Coast wreck, but the current access notice takes priority over older dive descriptions.
Sources checked 13 October 2026: Queensland Parks overview; dive qualifications and permits; closure notice linked above.
You can dive HMAS Brisbane all year long. Access: Boat. See the map of HMAS Brisbane on the right for the exact location.
Fishes you may spot while diving HMAS Brisbane
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Bannerfish
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Clownfish
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Eagle Ray
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Grouper
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Leopard Shark
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Lion Fish
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Nudibranch
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Octopus
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Turtle
... and more fishes & sea life, Bull Ray
Photos
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Clown fishes waiting in front of their blue anemone housePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Blue Nudibranch in Lembeh StraitPhoto by Rich Guest -
Lion Fish swimming in crystal clear waterPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
Huge Turtle resting on the sea floorPhoto by Rich Guest -
White Orange Shaped NudibranchPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Big OctopusPhoto by Rich Guest -
Two Lion Fish Swimming Blue OceanPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
Octopus Sea FloorPhoto by Jihye Lee -
White Blue NudibranchPhoto by Rich Guest -
Turtle Flying To The SurfacePhoto by Jihye Lee
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