Among the many beautiful sights to behold on Moreton Island, are the Tangalooma Wrecks.
It can be found on the northern side of the Tangalooma island resort. The need for the place surfaced in 1964 when some boat owners demanded an artificial harbor at a distance from the island for a safe haven.
Due to their pressing demands, their request was acknowledged and about 15 junk ships were submerged in a sandbank away from the Moreton Island.
Hence, the place is a collection of ships wrecked by the Queensland Government to serve as safe anchorage for boat owners.
The condemned ships include dredges, flatboats as well as old barges. As stated earlier, a sum of 15 water vessels was submerged in the ratio 5:5:5 between the year 1963 and 1980s.
The scuttled ships have names which were Dolphin, Seal, UKI, Bream, Morwong, Maryborough, Kookaburra, Bermugui, Groper, Stingaree, Echenesis, Iceberg, Pelican, Remora, Platypus II.
The ship named Maryborough was the first vessel submerged in the water. The massive construction brought about a break wall, which functions as a safe port for smaller boats.
Besides, the wrecks as well serve as a great spot for diving and snorkeling and it is now one of the famous places to explore on the Moreton Island.
Recently, the coral build up is now becoming more visible in and around the wrecks, serving as a sanctuary for more than 100 species of fish and occasionally Dolphins, Dugongs, and Wobbegongs are not left out.
Although the Tangalooma wrecks are not far from the beach, be cautious when trying to swim across because a strong current goes back and forth between the wrecks and the beach when the tide is in motion. Therefore, do not swim in the opposite direction.
The beach is not guarded by any security hence there is no lifesaver available. In addition, are many boats without practical experience, please be careful when moving across.
Exploring Moreton Island
To have a great Moreton Island experience, you can walk along the beach which will take about 15-20 minutes from the Tangalooma Island Resort. You have two alternatives to navigate around the beach. Either you go on foot or hire a beach bike from the Tangatours.
You can also snorkel in the Tangalooma Wrecks. When you dive into the water and examine the wrecks, you will see the secret world below the sea.
The wrecks houses various species of reef fish, build up corals and other aquatic life. What to see on Moreton Island includes the Tangalooma wrecks because they are the famous milestone that you must see when touring the Tangalooma resort.
It is natural, mysterious and depicts an untold story. Exploring the wrecks through snorkeling is safer because the boat will ferry you to the wrecks.
So, swimming and struggling with the ocean current will not be necessary (swimming there even tends to be difficult for professional swimmers). Snorkel equipment such as mask, wetsuits, and flippers are all available in the guided tour.
Alternatively, you can tour the Tangalooma wrecks with a sea scooter. With that, you can view more of the wrecks faster than snorkeling.
Use a sea scooter to move around the wrecks and see deeper than what you view with snorkeling. This experience is suitable for individuals with poor swimming skills.
The wrecks can be easily seen because they cast a well-established figure, and the best time to take pictures is between low tide and sunset.
