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ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES
Brunei has slowly grown to be the go-to diving
destination. It’s budding diving scene is fairly new,
with the first diving company starting operations
within the past decade. While the diving scene has
garnered growing numbers of local and international
divers, these dive spots are a great option for
those who wish to beat the crowds in other diving
hotspots.
Brunei’s waters are located in the outskirts of the
Coral Triangle, hosting 4,500 hectares of untouched
coral reef. Deep beneath the waters are shipwrecks
– some from World War II – as well as sunken oil
rigs. Some wrecks are only accessible for technical
divers due to their depths, rendering themunsuitable
as recreational diving spots.
Brunei’s dry season is between the months of March
and October, when diving is highly recommended.
During these months, the sea is calm and divers
are likely to encounter deeper underwater visibility.
Brunei’s water averages 25-28 degrees Celsius, a
warm tropical temperature ideal for diving. These
conditions coupled with exotic marine life in vast
quantities are perfect for macro photography,
attracting underwater photographers. Examples of
these marine lives include the largest species of
nudibranch, leopard shrimps, lionfish and some of
the world’s largest concentrations of allied cowries.
Dive operators
Two of the most prominent diving operators in the
Sultanate are Oceanic Quest and Poni Divers, both
situated in the Brunei-Muara district, around the
Serasa area. Founded in 2010, the former is the first
company in Brunei dedicated specifically to diving,
staffed with experienced divemasters. Meanwhile,
on top of diving, Poni Divers also conducts other
watersport activities such as wakeboarding, banana
boat rides and jet skiing. In 2017, both companies
were tapped by the Tourism Development Board
for a joint collaboration to further promote Brunei’s
diving scene.
DIVE SITES
AustralianWreck
One of the Sultanate’s most well known diving
sites is the Australian wreck. It lies on its port side
at a 50 degree angle and is slowly collapsing into
the sand at 35 metres under the sea. Originally a
Dutch passenger/cargo steamer called the S.S.
De Clerk, it was thought to be an Australian ship
or a Japanese ship sunk by an Australian torpedo,
hence the origin of its name – though it was later
proven that both theories were incorrect. In 1942,
it was converted into a troop carrier during World
War II. On September 16, 1944, while carrying 1,210
personnel from the Philippines to Singapore, the
ship – renamed the Imbaru Maru by the Japanese
– struck a Japanese mine and sank, claiming 339
lives. Tales of the 339 lives haunting the wreck are
well-known, though divers are encouraged to simply
enjoy the marine life lingering around the wreck.
Cement Wreck
Ranging in depth from eight metres at its top to 32
metres at its sandy bottom, this shipwreck is home
to soft corals, feather stars and enormous shoals of
swirling bait fish. Originally theMV Tung Hwang, the
Japanese fish was transporting cargoes of cement
for the construction of the Sultan’s palace when
it struck the Samarang Banks in Sabah en route
to Brunei. The ship remains predominantly intact.
Due to its feature, this wreck site is popular among
macro photographers.
AmericanWreck
Originally an escort ship later converted into a
minesweeper, the USS Salute sank after striking a
mine in 1945, splitting it in two down the middle.
During its zenith, it received 5 stars for its role in
WorldWar II after joining theMine Division 34 in the
South China Sea. Soft corals and the Yellow Tailed
Barracuda now call it home, accompanied by various
war goods and skeletons left behind.
BlueWater Wreck
The aptly named diving site is located 35 kilometres
away from the shore, out in the blue waters.
Previously a fishing trawler from the Philippines
named the Mabini Padre, it sank in 1981 while
fighting a fire which broke out onboard. Due to its
location, visibility on this site is generally very good,
treating divers to views of the whole wreck in one
dive. It has a depth range of 24 to 35 metres, and is
considered one of Brunei’s best shipwrecks.
Dolphin88Wreck
Formerly aMalaysian barge transporting a shipment
of stones through Bruneian waters, the Dolphin88
sank in 2013 when it was caught in bad weather
and sank off Pelong Rocks. Left in half, the top of
the wreck lies at 10 metres while its back half sank
to a depth of 24 metres. A popular diving site, it is an
excellent option for novice and experienced divers.
BolkiahWreck
A passenger ferry built in 1955 in Hong Kong, it used
to serve at the waters between Brunei and Labuan.
The Royal Navy scuttled the vessel in 1992 following
a rule that no vessel bearing the Brunei royal name
should be sold for scrap. At its highest, the top of the
wreck is at 18 metres while the deepest is at about
24 metres.