The Dragin II, sometimes called the Sea Dragon, was a steel-hulled fishing trawler about 19.5 m long and 7 m wide that sank in 1983. She now lies in 24 m about 1.5 km off South Stradbroke Island, north of the Jumpinpin bar, within Moreton Bay Marine Park, where Gold Coast Dive Adventures dives her under its marine parks permit. She rests listing to port, and her large wheelhouse is still intact and technically penetrable, although the operator does not recommend entering it.

The depth makes it an advanced open water dive, and time on the bottom is limited on air, so nitrox is worthwhile. The hull has become a small oasis on a sandy seabed. Clouds of baitfish hang over the wreck, and numbfish (numb rays) and shovelnose sharks lie on the sand beside it, along with smaller critters on the hull.

Operators note that visibility is hit and miss – on a clear day the whole wreck is visible from above, while on a poor day divers may see only part of it – so the Dragin II is best planned for settled weather after southerly winds. UniDive lists it among the Gold Coast wrecks with the Aquarian and the Scottish Prince, suitable for big-fish lovers and macro photographers alike. Compared with the Scottish Prince, it is deeper, more intact and more remote, and it offers experienced divers a proper steel trawler wreck within easy reach of the Gold Coast.

It pairs well with the shallower Aquarian on the same trip north along South Stradbroke.

Boat access only. Gold Coast Dive Adventures departs Runaway Bay Marina and runs out through the Gold Coast Seaway and north along South Stradbroke Island. The operator holds the Moreton Bay Marine Parks permit needed to run commercial dives here.

Private boats launch at the Broadwater ramps and cross the Seaway bar; the run north along the island is exposed to swell. The Dragin II lies about 1.5 km off the island, north of the Jumpinpin bar – a longer run than the Aquarian.

Offshore Gold Coast reefs sit in open water and are limited by swell and wind: easterly or south-easterly swell over about 1.5 m and south-east trade winds over 15-20 knots make the sites rough and stir up the bottom, while summer north-easterly sea breezes build through the afternoon. Visibility is typically 8-20 m, best after several days of southerly or westerly winds and in winter, and poor after heavy rain when the Nerang River and Broadwater outflow spreads along the coast. The Seaway crossing is safest on the incoming tide.

Visibility on the Dragin II is described by the operator as hit and miss.

Descend the line to the hull, which lists to port, and circle it at 20-24 m, looking at the wheelhouse from outside and checking the sand for numbfish and shovelnose sharks. Watch no-decompression time and ascend on the line.

Nitrox recommended; no penetration.

Gold Coast Dive Adventures (Runaway Bay) – holds the Moreton Bay Marine Parks permit and runs occasional dives; UniDive club trips.