RMS Quetta

One of Queensland’s most spectacular and least dived shipwrecks is the RMS Quetta. In 1890 the RMS Quetta, 120 metre passenger and cargo ship, was on a voyage from Brisbane to London when the vessel hit an uncharted rock north of Cape York. The ship sank very quickly and with the loss of 134 people it is still the worst maritime disaster to happen in Queensland.

The RMS Quetta today rests on its port side in 18 metres and is a sensational dive. The ship is largely intact, with plenty of cabins and the holds to explore. Washed by strong currents, lush corals decorate the wreck and provide a home for invertebrate species and reef fish. However, the best feature of the RMS Quetta is the staggering amounts of fish that populate the wreck. Common are schools of batfish, trevally, snappers, sweetlips and barracuda. Other species seen on the wreck include stingrays, sharks, eagle rays, turtles, sea snakes and large gropers.