Ex-HMAS Adelaide Dives
wreck of the HMAS Adelaide is located off Sydney’s Central coast. As Sydney wreck dives go, it is one of the most famous and a relatively recent one at that!
Quick Facts about our Ex-HMAS Adelaide dive
- Location: Off Sydney’s Central Coast (Avoca Beach)
- Diver Qualifications: Advanced
- Depth: 15m to 37m
- Recommended Gas: Nitrox 30%
- Dive time: Generally, 35-70 mins
- Visibility: 5m to 25m
- What you’ll see: Humpback whales, southern right, seals, grey nurse sharks, whales, kingfish, tailor, yellowtail, squid eggs, colourful corals.
- Best season to dive: Great in all seasons
We also offer this dive to technical certified divers so as they can do this dive in one long continuous dive of well over 70 minutes. This technical type long dive can be done at the same time as other recreational advanced divers who will be doing two separate dives.
Over the last year we have been commonly seeing large numbers of big grey nurse sharks and several Australian fur seals on the wreck, this maybe due to the large number of pelagic fish which now call the wreck home.
A Sydney wreck dive for advanced divers
Unfortunately, the ex-HMAS Adelaide sank side on to the prevailing sea conditions and has since subsided to a depth of 37m with the top of the mast at 15m. As such, divers must have completed an advanced dive certificate and it would be of benefit to have also completed a nitrox course. Divers should expect to experience a bit of surge on the wreck, in particular
Departure from Pittwater for a safer dive
We operate our boat from Careel Bay Marina located in Pittwater on Sydney’s Northern beaches. This departure location saves hours of car travel for our divers and reduces the risk of decompression sickness due to the pressure change when returning by sea (instead of experiencing the significant pressure changes due to elevation were you to return to Sydney from the central coast via the M1 motorway!)
Loads of free parking, easy access for your car to drop off your dive gear straight onto the wharf.)
Highlights from our Ex-HMAS Adelaide dive
Our journey to the wreck may feature humpback and southern right whales as they make their way north or south. Once at the wreck site marine park, we can expect huge schools of kingfish, tailor (bluefish) and yellowtail.
Like many Sydney wrecks, expect to find squid eggs attached to the superstructure and handrails of the ex-HMAS Adelaide. The wreck is now covered by colourful hard and soft corals; an added bonus to feast your eyes on throughout this amazing Sydney wreck dive.
As you descend, the corals’ colours will fade starting with the reds down to the blues and greens.
An advanced Sydney wreck dive
As the depth range varies from 15m to 37m, this dive is designed for advanced open water divers. During our dive, we’ll explore the decks and galleys from the hanger deck on up (the lower decks are in excess of 30m and access to them is restricted by Crown lands who manage the site.)
Diving a Royal Australian Navy ship
Diving this relatively new and well-preserved military shipwreck is a unique privilege. The wheelhouse which houses the captain’s chair is a great spot for a keepsake photo as is the combat information centre (CIC). This area is one deck below and aft of the wheelhouse and easily accessible by a hole that has been cut into the deck in the wheelhouse.
Our wreck dive will take us through many of the ship’s cabins. We will exit via the stern either in the hanger deck or through one of the holes which have been cut into the ship to make the ship safe for divers. Depending on the conditions, expect visibility to range from 5m to 25m.
Strong surges may be encountered on this wreck, even in small seas, as the vessel was sunk side onto the prevailing waves. Once inside the wreck visibility will be good, irrespective of how it is outside the ship.
Quick takeaways when diving the ex-HMAS Adelaide wreck
- The wreck’s bow points in an eastern direction
- There are 4 moorings on the wreck
- Part of the wreck’s superstructure has already broken off (large side sheet metal panel)
- The hull is steel, whilst the superstructure is made of aluminium
- Divers will need to sign a waiver from Crown lands before they dive
Come dive this beautiful wreck with us!
Sydney wreck diving doesn’t get much better than this! Dive the Old Adelaide with Sydney’s best scuba diving team.