6 destinations for avid wreck divers
Wreck diving has enormous appeal for many divers. A ship that once sailed the oceans of the world and now forms an artificial reef full of life. It gives a dive an extra story. You swim not only among fish and coral, but also through a piece of history. Worldwide, there are thousands of wrecks underwater. Yet many dive destinations are best known for one iconic wreck. Think for example of the Liberty wreck on Bali or the Hilma Hooker on Bonaire. Beautiful dives, but often it remains to one or two wrecks.
In this blog we focus on destinations where wrecks really take center stage, the places where you can dive multiple impressive wrecks during one trip. These are 6 destinations where you go specifically to wreck dive!
An important note: wreck diving carries additional risks. Therefore, never dive without proper training. During a wreck specialty you will learn about navigation around wrecks, potential hazards and how to safely explore a wreck, among other things.
1. Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
For wreck lovers, diving on Truk is Walhalla. There are more than 400 ship and aircraft wrecks on the bottom of the Truk Atoll. Truk was an important naval base for the Japanese. The Japanese thought Truk was too far away for an American attack. That is why the air attack came as a total surprise, they lost 45 ships and 275 planes. It was like Japan’s Pearl Harbor.
Since then there have been 70 ships and 400 aircraft on the bottom, some of them still in excellent condition. On these wrecks are still aircraft that were going to be transported and in the cargo hold are transport trucks. In the mess is preserved officer’s china. Warm, clear and mostly current-free water are ideal conditions for diving on the wrecks of Truk. The most popular wreck is the Fujikawa Maru. The ship is very photogenic, especially because of the cannons on the front deck. The cargo is fairly intact, so you can find Zero planes in the hold. You’ll explore the wrecks in Truk from a liveaboard, making up to 5 dives a day.
2. Bikini Atoll, Micronesia
For technical divers, diving at Bikini Atoll is one of the most impressive destinations in the world. In 1946, the United States used this atoll for nuclear testing during Operation Crossroads. For these tests, an entire fleet of warships was placed in the lagoon to see what the effects of an atomic bomb would be.
After the explosions, many of these ships sank to the bottom of the lagoon. As a result, some of the largest warships you can explore as a diver lie here today. Many wrecks are deep and huge in size, making diving here suitable only for experienced technical divers.
One of the most famous wrecks is the USS Saratoga, a giant aircraft carrier that lies at a depth of about 50 meters. The USS Nagato is also special. This Japanese battleship served as the flagship of the Japanese fleet during World War II. The wrecks are impressively large and often surprisingly well preserved.
These wrecks are only accessible to technical divers due to their depth. It also really pays to be a certified wreck diver should you wish to travel to these unique destinations. You explore this location by liveaboard. Keep in mind that it is an exclusive destination that you need to commit 1 to 2 years in advance.
3. Coron Bay, Philippines
In Asia Coron Bay is one of the most famous destinations. In September 1944, American planes here carried out a surprise attack on a Japanese supply fleet. During this attack, several ships were sunk that now lie at the bottom of the bay.
Today, there are 12 Japanese wrecks scattered around the bay. Many of these ships were supply and transport ships carrying oil, cement and other materials. As a result, you can still find cargoes and structures in the holds in some of the wrecks.
One of the best-known wrecks is the Irako, a large supply ship that lies about 25 to 40 meters deep. The Okikawa Maru is also popular. This oil tanker lies between about 10 and 26 meters deep and is beautifully overgrown with coral. For divers who want to go a little deeper, the Akitsushima is an impressive wreck at about 22 to 36 meters.
Most wrecks are dived from resorts around Coron, but there are also liveaboards that call on this region. Because many wrecks are relatively close together, you can explore several historic ships during one dive trip.
4. Palau, Micronesia
Palau is best known for its sharks, strong currents and spectacular reef dives. Less well known is that you can also dive several interesting wrecks here.
During World War II, several Japanese ships and planes were sunk around the islands. Many of these wrecks are in relatively shallow water, making them good for diving.
One of the most famous wrecks is the Iro Maru, a large Japanese supply ship that lies at a depth of about 30 to 40 meters. The Helmet Wreck is also popular. This wreck still has helmets, gas masks and other military equipment scattered around the deck. One particular wreck is the Jake Seaplane, a Japanese seaplane that lies almost intact at a depth of about 15 meters.
The beauty of wreck diving in Palau is that you can easily combine it with the country’s famous reef dives.
5. Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are a paradise for divers who want to combine nature and history. During the heavy fighting around Battle of Guadalcanal many ships and planes sank here.
Near Guadalcanal are several wrecks that are relatively easy to reach. Some start as early as shallow water and slowly descend to greater depths.
One of the most famous wrecks is the Hirokawa Maru, a Japanese transport ship located at a depth of about 35 meters. The wreck is beautifully covered with soft corals and attracts many reef fish. The Kinugawa Maru is also popular and lies between about 10 and 30 meters deep. Also on the coast are the Bonegi I and Bonegi II wrecks, which start as early as around 5 meters depth.
The combination of wrecks, tropical reef life and relatively few divers makes this destination particularly attractive.
6. Northern Red Sea, Egypt
The Red Sea is among the most famous wreck diving areas in the world. Especially in the northern part of the Red Sea, several historic shipwrecks are located close to each other. These wrecks are often visited during liveaboards departing from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. From some locations you can also take day trips to, for example, the Thistlegorm. But if you want to do several wreck dives, it’s best to travel with a liveaboard.
The most famous wreck is undoubtedly the SS Thistlegorm. This British cargo ship was bombed in 1941 while it was full of military equipment. Today you can still see motorcycles, trucks and even train cars lying in its holds. The wreck lies between about 16 and 32 meters deep.
Also at Abu Nuhas are several wrecks close together. The Giannis D, Carnatic and Chrisoula K are well-known dives here. Because many wrecks are relatively shallow and overgrown with coral, they are also very photogenic.
Other places for fantastic wreck diving
There are, of course, many other places where you can dive multiple wrecks, including in Europe.
- Malta has several wrecks, including ships and planes sunk specifically for divers. In Gozo, the smaller island near Malta, there are 3 wrecks in a row. If you dive with a DPV, you can see all the wrecks in one dive.
- Jordan has a special underwater museum. You can see wrecks of ships, military tanks, planes and a helicopter.
- Scapa Flow in Scotland is home to several First World War German warships that were deliberately sunk at the time.
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