Cementco / Flinders - DownUnder - EXP - Scott

Details

Sat 11 May 2024 05:00 — 18:00
Moreton Bay

Event information

This event is full.

We plan to dive at both the Cementco Wreck, one of our less frequently visited sites, and Flinders, one of our more frequently visited sites!

Crusader 2, a 67m long hopper barge was originally commissioned by the Australian Army in 1944 to carry heavy equipment and supplies to the troops stationed in New Guinea, before being used by the Qld Cement and Lime Co to carry dead coral and sand from its mining operations in Moreton Bay, up the river to Brisbane. The barge was due to be retired in 1984 and was intended to be scuttled close to the northern end of Flinders Reef, but it sprung a leak and sunk prematurely, and now lies 400m NE from Flinders Reef, lying upside down with most areas easily accessible, although penetration of the wreck is no longer permitted for safety reasons. The wreck is a popular dive site that attracts Queensland Groupers, reef and pelagic fish, and the wreck is sparsely covered in corals.

Flinders Reef is a protected marine sanctuary and the closest true coral reef to Brisbane, with the highest number of coral species of any sub-tropical reef system along Australia's east coast. With thousands of species of tropical fish, an array of hard and soft corals, eagle rays, leopard sharks in summer, grey nurse sharks and humpback whales in winter, and the famous Turtle Cleaning Station in only 5m of water, it is one of Queensland's most popular open water level dive sites.

Please note the requirements below before you sign up as this is an Experienced trip. Each diver must:

  • Be a current Unidive member, medically fit to dive, who passed the swim test.
  • Have an Advanced certification or equivalent from a recognised agency.
  • Have a minimum of 30 dives at 10 different dive sites.
  • Dive within their certification and capability.
  • Ensure that they have all required dive gear (except tanks and weights, which are provided):
    • Please bring your own mask, snorkel and fins, as Unidive does not provide these.
    • If you need to hire other equipment such as BCD, reg and wetsuit, arrange these before the trip (typically at the Unidive shed on Thursday night before the trip).
    • You must dive with an SMB / safety sausage, cutting device and whistle. Note: These items are NOT supplied.
    • Please note, there will be no time to sort out gear hire on the day of the trip.
  • Follow instructions given by the Boat Handlers and the Dive Supervisor.
  • Help out throughout the whole day.
  • Notify the Dive Officer and Trip Organiser of any changes to their personal circumstances as declared in the event registration form.
  • Attend the trip meeting (usually on the Thursday beforehand at 6:30 pm at the Unidive shed).

If you have any questions about the trip, please email dive@unidive.org.