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SS Yongala (Townsville)

Diving in Australia

Known for reef sharks, turtles and eagle rays.

Best months
Jun–Sep
Water
22–29 °C
Levels
Advanced

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

  • Best
  • Good
  • Possible
  • Closed
  • Not documented yet

SS Yongala (Townsville) in October

Good season
Sea
26 °C
at the surface
Air
26 °C
24 °C at night
Rain
30 mm
one of the driest months
Wind
22 km/h
on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Diveable year-round. Spirit of Freedom: Mar–Nov most stable, Jun–Aug peak visibility and pelagics, Dec–Feb unpredictable (tropical weather/cyclones). 50 Great Dives says there is no closed season but Aug–Sep is best, so Sep is also shown as best. Yongala Dive (via Diveplanit) gives Mar–Jun clearest visibility, Jun–Aug pelagics, Sep–Feb warmer water.

Source: spiritoffreedom.com.au

The dive

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m1 site

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Humpback whalesSource: diveplanit.com
  • Peak season
  • Seen

Humpback whales: Jun–Aug

Also reported here, season not documented yet:

  • Reef sharks
  • Turtles
  • Eagle rays
  • Rays
  • Barracuda
  • Trevally
  • Batfish
  • Groupers
  • Napoleon wrasse
  • Sea snakes
  • Whale sharks
  • Manta rays
  • Bull sharks

Where is SS Yongala (Townsville)?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: SS Yongala (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

SS Yongala (Townsville): frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive SS Yongala (Townsville)?
The best months to dive SS Yongala (Townsville) are Jun–Sep. Diveable year-round. Spirit of Freedom: Mar–Nov most stable, Jun–Aug peak visibility and pelagics, Dec–Feb unpredictable (tropical weather/cyclones). 50 Great Dives says there is no closed season but Aug–Sep is best, so Sep is also shown as best. Yongala Dive (via Diveplanit) gives Mar–Jun clearest visibility, Jun–Aug pelagics, Sep–Feb warmer water.
Is SS Yongala (Townsville) good for beginner divers?
Not really: none of the 1 dive sites we document is rated for Open Water divers. Plan an Advanced certification and some experience first.
What is the water temperature in SS Yongala (Townsville)?
The water is usually between 22 °C and 29 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in SS Yongala (Townsville)?
Divers regularly see reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, rays, barracuda and trevally.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash
Photo credits