Deep dive: what you will see at the Gold Coast’s new world class underwater attraction

New details have been revealed about the $5 million dive attraction being built off The Spit, including what it will cost and when it is expected to open.

THE council is seeking a 50-year lease on the new $5 million world class dive attraction where tourists and residents will be charged for a two-hour visit.

A report to councillors on the project, where the funding is split between the State and council, casts fresh light on the tourism attraction which officers believe will be opened in 12 months.

The eight buoyant "sculptural reef flutes" as part of the Gold Coast's new dive attraction.

COAST DIVER SHARES INCREDIBLE SEAWAY PHOTOS

The transport committee meeting was told the design was 50 per cent complete and showed eight buoyant “sculptural reef flutes” extending up to 20 metres and gravity anchored to the sea floor by weighted reef foundations.

The reef flutes closest to the top are only 10 metres below the surface, making them accessible to snorkellers who will be able to access a landing pad on a mooring.

The buoyant or floating reef is the first of its kind, and a map showed it will be located 2.5km east of Philip Park at The Spit on a sandy seabed.

Proposed location for the Gold Coast's world class dive attraction off The Spit.

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The site is about 1.8km east of the existing Scottish Prince wreck, popular among local divers, and will withstand storms, being available at least 220 days each year through vessels leaving the Gold Coast Seaway.

A council officer told councillors: “The precinct is 500 metres by 500 metres. At the moment we have six moorings in there. Three are available to the public, so you would book for two hour timeslots.”

The cost is expected to be $25 for visiting divers, similar to charges for diving trips off Brisbane. A diving permit is needed and bookings will made with council.

The 'sculptural reef flutes as part of the Gold Coast dive attraction.

‘COME BACK’ TO COAST’S WILDLIFE ATTRACTIONS

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster asked several questions about operational costs and argued that he had the “strong and firm view” that council should be granted the lease.

The council report admitted that given the dive precinct was located in “unallocated Queensland Government waters” a key challenge would be an agreeable tenure and management model.

After council officers met with State bureaucrats it was agreed that the city would lodge an application for 50-year term lease over the dive precinct.

One of the "sculptural reef flutes" as part of the world class Gold Coast dive attraction.

Council transport and infrastructure director Alton Twine told Cr Vorster: “We should be in the gun seat to manage this. We shouldn’t be incurring a loss. We want to cover our operational costs.”

The council report said the dive attraction would inject $32.8 million into the region’s economy in the first 10 years of operation, generating about 166,540 new overnight visitors to the Coast.