IMPORTANT UPDATE! 

Since Tropical Cyclone Alfred crossed the coast on March 9 2025, exciting changes have been made to the wreck! The forward smoke stack has been picked up off the primary hull structure, moved north, and placed down onto the sand completely intact! An amazing move by Mother Nature that has to be seen to be believed!

Due to commercial works being undertaken on the site, Sunreef and QPWS have implemented increased dive safety protocols. At this time, diving on the ex-HMAS Brisbane is EXTERNAL ONLY.

On your arrival to Sunreef, we will check you in and see that your gear is organized, whether you prefer one of our staff to set up for you, or you would like to do it for yourself. We'll then depart out to the Ex-HMAS Brisbane. Each diver will be given a thorough briefing about the dive as the boat traverses the calm waters of the Mooloolah River. Once the boat is at the wreck and moored, the crew will help get divers into the water. The dive will last for 50 minutes, or as soon as a diver or their buddy reaches 50 bar, whichever comes first. The divers then return to the shop, where gear is washed for you.

The Ex-HMAS Brisbane dive site

Dive one the world's best wreck sites, the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, a decommissioned guided missile destroyer. Located just 2.9 nautical miles offshore which makes it an easy venture out and is available to dive all year round. 

Sunreef has exclusive use of the two midship moorings, making for two leisurely dives that allow divers to comfortably and safely visit the entire wreck.

Explore the outside of the wreck and encounter an abundance of local aquatic sea life that inhabits her. Discover the depths of her hull, enter the engine room or even visit the control room where her kill switches are still intact. 

The vessel now serves as a world-class artificial reef and diving site. She has attracted divers from all over the world. Divers from Open Water level, to Divemaster, Instructors, dive shop owners and ex-servicemen who served on the HMAS Brisbane all sing the praises of this great wreck dive; She seems to be in the perfect diving spot. Sitting bolt upright the Ex-HMAS Brisbane has 15 metres of water over her forward decks and 18 metres over her stern. Consistently good water clarity and minimal swell makes for great diving. Just one dive on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, and you readily understand why Sunreef is privileged to have been issued a licence by the Environment Protection Agency of the Queensland Government to conduct dive trips on the former HMAS Brisbane. The dive is phenomenal. There is certainly a lot of ship to see. 

Just cruising around the outside, its sheer size makes it an awesome sight. Water temperatures range from 17C in winter to a summer high of 27C. Visibility averages around 15 metres but up to 20 metres or more is not uncommon. Environmental studies commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency and conducted by scientists from the University of the Sunshine Coast and Queensland Museum confirms the diversity of marine life that has made the Brisbane home. 

Local inhabitants include a large bull & eagle rays, angler fish, lionfish, blennies, nudibranchs, sea hares, squid and a school of juvenile red emperor and snapper. Other visitors include a shovelled nose rays, greasy cod and eagle rays. An octopus has made a home in a pyrotechnic tube on the deck. A resident school of predatory yellow tailed kingfish now ‘buzz’ the schools of of bait fish that surround the Ex-HMAS Brisbane. Up to 10 huge Queensland grouper have been seen at one time off the bow of the ship. A turtle has taken up residency on the aft funnel and eagle rays cruise between the 2 funnels. There’s also a huge amount of soft corals to be seen and hard corals are really getting established as well.

History of the vessel

The vessel: Commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1967, the HMAS Brisbane was a 133 metre Charles F Adams Class DDG guided missile destroyer of approx 5000 tons. The HMAS Brisbane served Australia faithfully for 34 years, till she was decommissioned in 2001. She served in both the Vietnam and Gulf War and assisted on many humanitarian missions such as in Darwin in 1974, after cyclone Tracy.

Her new life: In January 2003, the Queensland Government agreed to accept the decommissioned HMAS Brisbane from the Commonwealth Government for sinking off the Sunshine Coast as an artificial reef and dive site.

The scuttling: After extensive and careful preparation, the ship was towed for its last journey to the Sunshine Coast. With the expertise of a crew who had extensive experience in scuttling ships for artificial reefs, explosives were carefully positioned in specially made wooden frames hard against the inside skin of the ship, below the waterline. On the 31st of July 2005, at a site 2.9 nautical miles east of Mudjimba Island off the Sunshine Coast, these explosives were detonated and in 2 minutes and 10 seconds, the former HMAS Brisbane was on the bottom in 28 metres of water.

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Reminder for divers:

This dive trip is subject to weather, and we will send out an email and text the day before at 3:30 pm to confirm the trip and its departure time. 

Please note if you have not dived in the last 2 years you will be required to complete a Reactivate course before you can participate in any diving activities.

These can be arranged on most days at set times provided we have at least 3 days notice. Please contact us on 07 5444 5656 for more information.

This is also in open water and we suggest that you look into seasickness medication to minimize the chance of it impacting your trip.

The reef:

Flinders Reef is located just north of Moreton Island, and is part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park, making it a fully protected marine sanctuary. 

The reef was aptly named after Matthew Flinders, the explorer who led the first team to circumnavigate Australia, as many divers and snorkelers explore this reef today. 

There are plenty of walls, gutters, caves and pinnacles to discover, all covered in dense coral, sponges, and plant life. There are plenty of brain, plate, and staghorn corals, along with many different soft corals, gorgonians, and anemones. 

What makes Flinders Reef even more special is that it is a turtle cleaning station, making it very likely that you will see green, hawksbill, and/or loggerhead turtles. There are also many tropical and temperate fish (over 200 species) on this coral reef, with many blue tangs, clown triggerfish, yellow clownfish, and porcupine pufferfish, just to name a few. 

In the warmer months, different fish frequent the reef, such as eagle rays and leopard sharks, whereas winter brings in grey nurse sharks and humpback whales!

The dives:

Our trip to Flinders Reef is a full day's trip. You'll meet at our dive shop in Mooloolaba at 7:00 am, and return around 3:30 pm. It takes one hour to get to Flinders Reef, which is just north of Moreton Island. 

We typically visit two sites at Flinders Reef, with lunch in between each site. Divers will have the opportunity to complete two dives (one at each location), with the option of going with a guide. 

Reminder for divers:

Please note you will be required to fill out an online waiver after booking. If you answer "yes" to taking medication (other than contraception and malaria medication), having an injury or illness that may affect your ability to dive, you will need doctors clearance before diving with us. If you are pregnant/trying to become pregnant, you cannot dive. 

Children under 8 are not permitted on board.

As with all dives, the dive is subject to weather, and we will send out an email and text the day before at 3:30 pm to confirm the trip and its departure time. 

Please note if you have not dived in the last 2 years you will be required to complete a Reactivate course before you can participate in any diving activities.

These can be arranged on most days at set times provided we have at least 3 days notice. Please contact us on 07 5444 5656 for more information.

This is also in open water and we suggest that you look into seasickness medication to minimize the chance of it impacting your trip.

Anyone can learn to scuba dive - provided your are 10 years or over, feel comfortable in the water, and can swim.

Our Open Water course is designed to get you into the water as soon as possible without skimping on any of the essential theoretical information. Once in the pool, you will learn the basic skills, starting in the shallows and gradually working into deeper water as you master the skills.

The final step is your four qualifying ocean dives where you get to experience what diving is all about. We take you to our local coral reefs to finalise your training and qualify you as a fully certified diver. We teach you to dive in such a way that you will experience maximum enjoyment in a maximum safety environment.

There are certain medical conditions that can prevent you from learning to dive or require you to get a dive medical clearance before starting the course. Just ask our friendly staff if you have any questions.

Clear and proper training guarantees full competency and understanding of basic skills prior to your first dive, which ensures your new sport is a completely safe and rewarding activity.

*If you are booking this course for a 10 or 11 year old there is an additional fee of $250 applicable as when the child is this age we are required to reduce the ratio of students to instructors. A parent will also need to accompany the child to every portion of the course. If you are doing the course with your child non of the following will apply just the initial fee but if you are not for the Pool day, provided you do not want to get in the pool with them there is no charge for this, but for the ocean dives there will be a $99 fee applicable for each day on the boat as you will be taking up one of the spots on the vessel. If you wish to dive as you are already qualified on the diving days you would just need to pay gear hire if needed for the day.

How long does it take?

Course times can be made quite flexible; however, our most popular format is “part-time” conducted over two consecutive weekends. Or, you may prefer “full time”, a three straight days of tuition. Evening courses can also be arranged.

Course includes:

All specialised scuba gear

Pool training and theory sessions

PADI eLearning and Log Book 

All Open Water boat dives

PADI internationally recognised Open Water Certification 

Things you have to supply:

Swimmers, Towel and Sunscreen

Mask, snorkel and fins. These are available for hire or can be purchased at a discounted rate whilst you are on the course.

This is also in open water and we suggest that you look into seasickness medication to minimize the chance of it affecting your trip.

Be prepared to have FUN in complete safety!

Sunreef’s Advanced Dive Course provides divers with a structured, well-supervised means to gain additional experience. It involves students in various underwater tasks that broaden their awareness of the environment and their capabilities as divers.

This course gives you a taste of what more specialised diving activities are out there. It is designed to advance your skills under the supervision of an experienced instructor to help you feel comfortable in a variety of situations, including being certified to dive to 30 metres! You will learn how to navigate underwater and explore greater depths and much more!

This course is also credit towards the Master Scuba Diver Rating and/or a Divemaster rating. 

To obtain your advanced diver status, you will need to complete 5 dives on local reefs and the Ex-HMAS Brisbane. There is no particular order in which the courses need to be completed. There is also an e-learning portion to the course which needs to be completed. Finishing the theory before your dives will help you get the most out of your time underwater. 

Your day on the ex-HMAS Brisbane: 

Thriving marine life, pleasant year round diving conditions and ease of access have quickly made former guided missile destroyer, the HMAS Brisbane, one of Australia's most talked about dive sites. The typical three dives completed at this site are underwater navigation, deep, and wreck. Underwater navigation focuses on reinforcing your skill with an underwater compass and use of natural navigation. The deep dive conducted will demonstrate to you the effects of pressure and the changes of colour at depth. The risks of nitrogen narcosis will also be covered, making you a better equipped diver for deeper dives in the future. As we are diving on the ex-HMAS Brisbane, you have the perfect opportunity to prepare yourself for future wreck dives. You and your instructor will identify potential hazards to wreck dives, better preparing you for safer, more enjoyable dives on different wrecks in the future. 

Your day on the local reefs:

Large expanses of coral, sandy trenches, shallow gulleys, rocky walls, and limestone overhangs await your exploration on our local reefs. This natural environment is where hundreds of fish and invertebrates call home, and we're fortunate to visit them. For your two dives on the local reefs, you can select from a variety of options, including: 

•  Nitrox (Extend your bottom time!)*

•  Underwater Photography*

•  Fish ID

•  Underwater Naturalist

•  Boat Diver

•  Peak Performance Buoyancy

•  more are available...please enquire

Whichever you choose, your instructor will cover the different requirements and aspects of the dive. Pick whichever you find interesting, or what you feel you need improving on. These dives build upon the foundation of your basic diving skills, helping you become not only a better diver, but a diver who can get more enjoyment out of the aspects they love best. 

Course includes:

•  Full Academics

•  Advanced Open Water Divers Manual or el earning

•  PADI Advanced Open Water Certification Card

•  5 Great Dives and Lots of Fun!

•  Air tanks  and weights

Things you need:

•  Dive Gear  (Hire of equipment extra charge for the course duration)

•  Open Water  Divers  Certification

•  Dive Slate*

•  Cutting Tool*

*Additional costs involved

The ultimate jet skiing experience is the largest and fastest open Ocean Jet Ski Hire on The Sunshine Coast.

Experience the power of a jet ski out in the ocean and get your adrenaline pumping! With over 3 square km of open ocean, you can go in any direction you want.  Slow, fast or flat out the power is at your fingertips!

Each jet ski can take up to two people at a time - at no extra cost. The minimum age to hire a jet ski is 16 years old, however anyone from the ages 12-15 can ride with a responsible adult (18 years old) on board. 

Your safety is always paramount and to ensure it’s the best day of your holidays a Sunreef crew member on a rescue boat will be there to assist you.

At Sunreef Hire, we have no compulsory circuit, no round and round in circles, just pure adrenaline pumping wave riding with heaps of carving, donuts, fish tails, and sharp turns.

No license required, we show you all operation and handling, issue you with life jackets, give you safety briefings and we show you all the tricks and manoeuvres.

Trips are subject to weather conditions. We schedule 2-3 trips per day depending on the season - you can book on for morning or afternoon 2 hour sessions. 

You will get about 1 hour of ocean play time as you please - the rest of the time is for exit and entering the canal and the briefing at the beginning of the trip.

Need a Scuba Diving refresher?

PADI Reactivate Course is the perfect way to ease back into the aquatic adventures that await you. With expert instructors by your side, you’ll revisit essential skills in a relaxed environment, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident before diving back into the ocean’s embrace. This course is designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule, offering you a chance to connect with fellow divers and share experiences while rediscovering the thrill of exploring vibrant marine life. Don’t let time away from diving hold you back; jump back in and let the underwater magic captivate you once more at Sunreef.

This is beautiful site for divers to explore what the Sunshine Coast reefs have to offer. Those new to diving may also explore this site, as we can also take divers in training (Open Water student dives 3 and 4).

Topography of the site features lovely boulders at the bottom of this site, which ranges from 14 to 22 metres deep, you may also choose to explore the small swim-throughs at this site.

As the name suggests, this is the site to see Grey Nurse sharks in the winter months. You may also encounter large schools of surgeon fish, turtles, rays, cuttlefish, eels and tropical reef fish. Throughout the cooler months, this site is a perfect spot to keep your eyes out for the placid and beautiful grey nurse sharks that use it as a transitional home.

Check in at Sunreef starts at the time outlined on your confirmation email or text. When you arrive, we will see you at our check in desk and ensure that your gear is organized. If you bring your own gear, our crew can carry it down to the dock and set it up for you, or if you prefer you will be free to do it yourself. If we know you are hiring gear, everything will be organized for you prior to check in.

On departure to the Local Reefs, our trained crew will provide a thorough briefing for all our divers about the sites we will visit and will answer any questions you may have about it. Once the boat exits the calm waters of the Mooloolaba River system, it is around a 15 minute ride to the site. The vessel will be moored and our crew will help you set up to get in the water.

Each dive is planned to last for either 50 minutes or will end to have you on the surface with 50 bar (whichever one comes first).

Every dive is different depending on the conditions that day and time.

Between dives, we will come up for a surface interval where you are provided snacks and water. Feel free to bring along your own snacks if you have allergies or would like more substantial food.

The divers then return to the shop, where we will debrief and help you log your dives. While this is happening we will unload the vessel and wash all your gear for you if you so wish.

This sheltered reef is perfect for training dives, though even the most experienced divers enjoy the colours and life this site has to offer. (Open Water Dives 1 and 2)

Topography features a lovely wall ranging from 16 meters up to 5 meters.

This site homes crayfish, wobbegong sharks, a variety of nudibranch species, cowrie shells, rays and turtles – along with all the tropical reef fish and corals you would expect from Mooloolaba reefs.

Check in at Sunreef starts at the time outlined on your confirmation email or text. When you arrive, we will see you at our check in desk and ensure that your gear is organized. If you bring your own gear, our crew can carry it down to the dock and set it up for you, or if you prefer you will be free to do it yourself. If we know you are hiring gear, everything will be organized for you prior to check in.

On departure to the Mudjimba Island, our trained crew will provide a thorough briefing for all our divers about the sites we will visit and will answer any questions you may have about it. Once the boat exits the calm waters of the Mooloolaba River system, it is around a 15 minute ride to the site. The vessel will be moored and our crew will help you set up to get in the water.

Each dive is planned to last for either 50 minutes or will end to have you on the surface with 50 bar (whichever one comes first).

Every dive is different depending on the conditions that day and time.

Between dives, we will come up for a surface interval where you are provided snacks and water. Feel free to bring along your own snacks if you have allergies or would like more substantial food.

The divers then return to the shop, where one of the guides will help you log your dives. While this is happening we will unload the vessel and wash all your gear for you if you so wish.

Ever wonder what it would be like to breathe underwater? Want to see corals, fish, turtles and more up close underwater? Here's the chance for those of you who want to try scuba diving but don't want to fully commit to the certification course yet. If this sounds like you, we are now offering a perfect opportunity for you! Our Discover Scuba Diving Program is a day-long adventure in learning the ins and outs of diving! 

To learn more about the site you will dive, check out our website.

You'll start off in the shop tank, where you will go over the scuba equipment you use to dive. You'll practice it in a shallow water setting where you can get a feel for what it's like to move around underwater with your gear, and where you will learn key skills that you will use during every scuba dive.This all will be followed by two open water dives at the beautiful and lively Mudjimba Island!

This is not a certification course, however you will definitely get a feel for what it takes to explore the underwater world. Our wonderful PADI Professionals will always make sure you feel safe and comfortable the whole time, while still making it a fun and memorable experience. 

Minimum age is 12 years old. No prior experience with scuba diving is necessary, but you will need to be in reasonable physical health.

Please follow this link to complete the medical form/waiver. Your booking will be placed on hold until this form is completed and received in our system.

On your arrival to Sunreef, we will check you in and see that your gear is organized, whether you prefer one of our staff to set up for you, or you would like to do it for yourself. After we verify all paperwork is in order, settle any balances, site divers’ certification cards, and ensure gear is organized, we'll then depart to the ex-HMAS Brisbane. Each diver will be given a thorough briefing about the dive as the boat traverses the calm waters of the Mooloolah River. 

Once the boat is at the site and moored, the crew will help get divers into the water for a late afternoon dive. The colours and marine life at this time of the day is magic! After the first dive, divers will return to the boat for the surface interval while crew change over the gear. Enjoy light snacks and watch the sun set over the Sunshine Coast. The second dive will begin with some natural light, before it turns completely dark and the nighttime creatures come out to say hello! 

Both dives will last for 50 minutes, or as soon as a diver or their buddy reaches 50 bar, whichever comes first. The divers then return to the shop, where gear is washed for you.

The trip:

Our trip to the Mudjimba Island reefs will give you the much needed ocean time you have been seeking, right in our own backyard! You will first meet at our dive shop at The Wharf Mooloolaba where you can collect your mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit all included in your booking. Our experienced crew will then lead you down to one of our purpose-built dive vessels, where you can get comfortable for the short ride out to Mudjimba Island. Once we securely anchor the vessel, everyone will gear up, enter the water with one of our in-water guides, and make their way over to the beautiful reef system that encompases Mudjimba Island. Many residents frequent this site, including several species of turtles, wobbegong sharks, octopus, squid, eels, crayfish, barracuda, stingrays, and many more! 

Snorkelers will have an in-water snorkel guide to both assist you with your snorkeling skills, and to show you some of the reef's residents. A minimum level of swimming is required to join this trip, as Mudjimba Island is in open ocean with no protection from current and waves. Unfortunately, if you cannot swim, you will be unable to attend this tour. If you have any doubts about your level of swimming ability, please call the shop on (07) 5444 5656. This trip plans for one 60 minute snorkelling session, with a total trip time of approximately 3 hours from the time you check-in until we return back on dock. 

Although we love hosting families with children, we unfortunately cannot take children under 8 years of age on our vessel. 

Reminder for all snorkelers: 

This is also in open water and we suggest that you look into seasickness medication to minimize the chance of it impacting your experience.