Wreck diving is for adventurers. Getting to explore ancient ships, looking for hidden treasure and admiring what they had on board before they sank. There is something eerie about a shipwreck, but divers love a good wreck to explore. Having good buoyancy is key to wreck diving to help maintain your level as you penetrate the wreck. Some wrecks you can swim into, while others you can swim around on the outside.
To gain a further understanding and advance your knowledge, get a wreck diving certification where you will learn safe practices and become familiar with wreck diving in different conditions.
The SS Yongala, Australia
One of the top rated wreck dives in the world is the Yongala, teeming with life including manta rays, tiger sharks, sea snakes, bull sharks and so much more. In 1911, the Yongala sank during a cyclone off the coast of Queensland killing 122 people. Without telegraph facilities, the ship could not be warned about the weather ahead. Divers are not allowed into the wreck but can enjoy it from the outside.
SS Thistlegorm, Egypt
Thistlegorm is a British vessel that was sunk in 1941 while carrying a cargo of military supplies including motorcycles, train carriages, rifles, and more. The wreck is 131 meters long, meaning there’s a lot to explore.
USAT Liberty, Indonesia
The USAT Liberty is considered to be one of the most accessible wrecks in the world as the top lies 3 meters below the surface, making it ideal for freediving and snorkeling. It was an American warship, used in WWI and WWII, in 1942 it was torpedoed by the Japanese. Covered in anemones, gorgonians and corals, this 120m-long wreck is beautiful to explore. The wreck has disintegrated and it can no longer be entered, but divers can still view guns, toilets and boilers that are inside.
Boeing 747, Amwaj Islands, Bahrain
Making the list because of its unique nature, the recently sunken Boeing 747, is the perfect wreck dive to explore. The wreck is at about 20 meters and measures 70 meters long. It’s the largest aircraft intentionally sunk as an artificial reef.
Fujikawa Maru, Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
During WWII, Chuuk Lagoon was used as a main navy base for the Japanese Army. In 1944, the Allied forces bombed the lagoon in 1944. During this operation, 12 warships, 32 merchant chips and 275 aircrafts were sunk. Nowadays, the Fujikawa Maru, is one of the most accessible of the 60 wrecks. The ferry is penetrable and lies at about 10 meters, onboard there is still airplanes and ammunition.
Are you interested in wreck diving? Take a look at some of the best airplane wrecks in the world, click here.
