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– struck a Japanese mine and sank. The incident
claimed 339 lives. Tales of the 339 lives haunting the
wreckarewellknown,thoughdiversareencouragedto
simply enjoy themarine life lingering around thewreck.
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 sh. Originally the MV Tung Hwang, the
Japanese sh 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 amongmacro photographers.
American Wreck
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 ve stars for its role in
World War II after joining the Mine 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.
Blue Water Wreck
The aptly named diving site is located 35 kilometres
awayfromtheshore,outinthebluewaters.Previously
a shing trawler from the Philippines named the
Mabini Padre, it sank in 1981 while ghting a re
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.
Dolphin88 Wreck
Formerly a Malaysian 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.
Bolkiah Wreck
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.
Oil Rig Wreck
Another popular diving spot, the Oil Rig Wreck
encompasses fragments of decommissioned oil rig
structures.ThesestructuresweresunkbyBSPaspartof
the Rigs to Reefs program in 1994. Greeting the divers
at the wreck are large schools of chevron barracudas,
jacks and other sh species, as well as arti cial reef
at a maximum depth of 18 metres. This diving site is
another popular spot for macro photography.
Penanjung Wreck
Situated further from most of the regular dive sites
is the Penanjung Wreck, also known as the Yewli
Wreck. It was a tugboat which now lies at a depth of
24 metres and a high point of 17 metres. Though it is
not often explored by divers due to its slightly distant
location, it plays home to the elusive nurse sharks and
sea snakes, making the trip out worth it.
Petani Mistral
The Petani Mistral was previously a tug ship that
sank in 1995 after it caught one of the legs of the
Trident-12 rig. It now lies at a depth of 47 metres
between the coast of Jerudong and Kuala Belait.
This site is only open to technical divers.
Yuho Maru
Another site open to technical divers, the Yuho
Maru was a Japanese wartime tanker previously
mistaken as one of the Toho Marus that sank
during World War II. The tanker sank in 1944
following an attack from a torpedo released from
an American submarine. The wreck lies 55 metres
under the sea.
Southern Glory
One of Brunei’s deepest diving sites at 63 metres,
the Southern Glory was built in New Zealand in
1951 and was formerly called the Karoon. Before it
sank in a storm, the Karoon exchanged ownerships
many times between Malaysian and Singaporean
businesses. Like the YuhoMaru and Petani Mistral,
only technical divers have access to this diving site.
Pelong Rocks
Situated ve kilometres away from Muara Beach’s
shores are these tiny outcrop of rocks which are
also referred to as Pulau Pilong-Pilongan. The site
is popular for rst-time divers and is often used for
training. However, due to its proximity to the shore,
underwater visibility can be impaired. Currents and
surges in the shallow water can prompt silt and
sand to rise into the waters. Marine life thrives
at the site, with anemones and various clown sh
species often spotted.
Abana Reef
Known for its great variety of untouched soft
and hard corals, the Abana Reef is a large and
healthy reef. The corals are home to a diverse
array of reef residents including banner sh,
lion sh, butter y sh, clown sh, seahorses and
puffer sh. Divers commonly encounter seahorses
and soft corals known as gorgonians in immense
quantities. At an average depth of 11 metres and
temperatures around 28 degrees, the Abana Reef
is a suitable site for beginners.