The Goorie Wreck — officially the ex-HMAS Brisbane — is a 133-metre former Royal Australian Navy guided-missile destroyer scuttled off the Sunshine Coast in 2005 to create an artificial reef. Lying in 15–28 metres of water approximately 2.9 nautical miles offshore, the wreck is encrusted with vibrant soft corals, sponges, and sea fans. Snorkellers with good buoyancy control can drift along the upper decks and superstructure, peering into gun turrets and passageways while schools of baitfish, trevally, and bull rays swirl around the massive steel hull. The site offers one of Queensland's most accessible shipwreck experiences for confident open-water swimmers, with visibility averaging 10–20 metres depending on swell and tides.
Goorie Wreck (ex-HMAS Brisbane)
IntermediateGO
GO
It's a go.
Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.5 mSwell Period 6.0 sWind Speed 1.2 knPrecipitation 0.0 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
DANGER: Explicit Risks Present
Goorie Wreck (ex-HMAS Brisbane) has hazards marked as danger. Entering the water here means you may face serious risks to your personal safety.
- Depth / breath-hold risk danger
The wreck is a deep snorkel site (3–5m to the upper deck, 15m+ to the seafloor). Inexperienced snorkellers may struggle with depth and breath-hold diving.
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
Know before you go
Logged by the community, confirmed by mods
High risk: Depth / breath-hold risk
The wreck is a deep snorkel site (3–5m to the upper deck, 15m+ to the seafloor). Inexperienced snorkellers may struggle with depth and breath-hold diving.
Moderate risk: Tidal current
Strong tidal flows can sweep around the wreck structure, especially on an outgoing tide. Snorkellers should plan dives around slack water and stay close to the wreck for shelter.
Moderate risk: Swell surge
Swell from the southeast can create surging conditions around the wreck at depths of 15–20 metres, with risk of being pushed into the structure.
Moderate risk: Sharp wreckage / entanglement
Sharp metal edges, exposed cables, and confined spaces within the wreck structure pose entanglement and laceration risks.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Boat traffic in the area includes dive charter vessels and recreational boats. Snorkellers must be visible with surface marker buoys.
Wildlife Guide
No wildlife notes for this spot yet.
Gallery
Be the first to share a photo
No photos yet — yours could be the first.
Photos are reviewed by moderators before they appear.
Getting in
Access ┬╖ facilities ┬╖ map
No access details recorded for this spot yet.
Spot Map
Community
Trust
Is this spot real, accurate, still loved?
Spots near Queensland
No nearby spots yet.
Needs verification
Quick verify
One tap helps the community keep this spot honest.
About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports