Old Reef
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Old Reef lies to the east of Townsville in Queensland, and it is the site where the steamer SS Gothenburg was wrecked in February 1875. The ship struck the coral and sank, and all of her officers died along with many of Australia's best known dignitaries. Barely 20 people made it ashore on nearby Holbourne Island.
The remains of the wreck lie in about 15 metres on the calm side of the reef. The site is reached by boat in open water and the dive is rated advanced, with an occasional current. Calm seas offshore matter here, since trips depend on swell and wind. The water runs between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Long-spined Crown-of-ThornsAcanthaster planciReported here · unconfirmed
PufferfishPufferfishReported here · unconfirmed
SquidSquidReported here · unconfirmed
WobbegongWobbegongReported here · unconfirmed
WrasseWrasseReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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