This corner of the world is famous - in scuba diving circles - for the wreck of the Yongala, which sank about 12 nautical miles east of Bowling Green Point which is about 3nm north of us. The dive centre is at the other end of Alva.
The S.SYongal sank in 1911 with the loss of all 122 on board. It is a steam powered steel ship over 100m long in 15-28 metres of water so it is considered a deep dive. For a (lapsed) open water certificate dive like me it requires a deep dive endorsement on the first dive. But I am without a current medical anyway... I will remember to bring my own mask, snorkel and fins - next time!
Diving the Yongala is rated in the world's top 10 of best dives!! All manner of PADI courses are available. The trip to the wreck only takes 30 minutes in the big RIB dive boat.
We have been out to the beaches, on the sand, cautiously. All the boats have to be launched over the sand, as with Kurrimine, lots of rusty tractors... A really big one for the RIB!!
We also explored the roads off the Ayr-Alva road finding a marine quarantine place - end of the road towards the Burdekin River delta.And the other way the front gate to the local sugar refinery.
So that was the 9th. Today the 10th we are going to see Jersey Boys at the local movie theatre.
