Nobody knows wreck diving like Just Gotta Dive (JGD) - we have travelled the world to bring you up to date information about well-known wrecks, as well as many which lie off the beaten path. Some of the most incredible wreck diving destinations the planet has to offer deserve special mention though - that's why we've compiled this list of five locales which simply must not be missed. From the cool waters of Scotland's Scapa Flow, to Malaysia, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and even to the coast of North Carolina, some amazing wreck dives await.
Truk Lagoon in Micronesia
Also known as Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia's Truk Lagoon is the site of over sixty wrecks, many of which have only recently been discovered. Massive ships, battle tanks and vehicles dating back to the second World War, sunken aircraft, and an astonishing array of WWII armament lie scattered beneath the lagoon's tranquil blue waters.
Covered in colorful coral and sponges, and providing shelter to an astounding array of marine life large and small, some of the best wrecks to be seen here include the San Francisco Maru, a 117 meter ship sitting upright at depths between 45 and 63 meters. A trio of Japanese Type 95 tanks haunt the ship's upper deck, and in the cargo hold, there are sea mines, bombs, aircraft engines, and many other artifacts. Equally impressive, yet located at shallower depths between 9 and 34 meters, the Fujikawa Maru is armed with a complement of 6 inch guns fore and aft. Just before Operation Hailstorm, the US airstrike which sunk Japan's fleet here, the Fujikawa Maru offloaded 30 B52N2 bombers which had been disassembled for shipment. In the ship's cargo hold, you can see the Japanese Zero fighters which had yet to be transferred to the airfield. These are just two of the many wrecks which can be explored on a trip to Truk Lagoon.
Scapa Flow in Scotland
Located in Scotland's Orkney Islands, Scapa Flow is a sheltered area of about 312 square kilometers, with a sandy shallow bottom averaging 30 meters, with the deepest areas not exceeding 60 meters. One of the world's most incredible natural harbors, Scapa Flow was used by Vikings over 1000 years ago, and more recently played host to the United Kingdom's naval fleet, throughout the first and second World Wars. The best way to enjoy wreck diving at Scapa Flow is to secure the services of a liveaboard; most are harbored at Stromness.
Before diving here, remember that "look but don't touch" rules are strictly enforced. This being said, you're certain to enjoy exploring the outer reaches of the wrecks here and even penetrating some of the better preserved ones. Examples of the Scapa Flow wrecks include three sister Konig class battleships at a depth of about 25 meters, a group of light cruisers at 16 to 20 meters, and the destroyer V83, the Tabarka, and Burrah Sound's Doyle. Some Scapa Flow wrecks are war graves and may not be visited by divers other than those belonging to Britain's Armed Forces.
North Carolina in USA
Lying just off the coast of North Carolina are thousands of shipwrecks. Some ships were lost to pirates, others to war; still others were lost to the forces of nature, and some have been added to serve as artificial reefs and as incredible dive sites for all to enjoy. Also known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, North Carolina's coast is home to some of America's most historically important wrecks.
Some, like the British Splendour and the Australia, were lost during the second World War. These wrecks lie at depths of about 30 meters, and are famous not just for their artifacts, but for the shark sightings experienced, and for the pelagic fish that swarm the decks.
19th Century steamers, including the Wetherby, which lies off Outer Diamond Shoals in 25-30 feet of water, and the Nevada and Idaho are broken up for the most part, but offer an intriguing look at how sailors during the Civil War spent their time.
Advanced and technical divers will enjoy wrecks like the Tarpon, a US submarine lost while under tow during the second World War, and the Proteus, a luxury liner lost in 1918. Both of these wrecks are at depths greater than 30 meters and both can be penetrated.
These are just a few examples of our favorite North Carolina wrecks - check out our Dive Sites section for in-depth information and a bit of the history that surrounds the area's shipwrecks.
Bikini Atoll in Marshall Islands
We'd have to be crazy not to include Bikini Atoll in our list of favorite wreck diving destinations! A quick primer on Bikini Atoll - this region was once used for nuclear bomb testing by the US government. Today, it is a UNESCO world heritage site, and many of the shipwrecks have been opened up to divers. In case you are concerned about radiation, these ships have been thoroughly tested and none remains. Instead, we are left with a large group of wrecks covered in coral and teeming with an eye-popping array of healthy marine life. As Bikini Atoll is protected by law, and as commercial fishing is prohibited here, all species are well-represented; from tiny reef fish to some very large sharks and enormous manta rays.
The wrecks include the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, which in addition to being the largest of the Bikini Atoll wrecks, is the shallowest, with her bridge superstructure at about 13 meters and her keel at about 64 meters. The Saratoga's flight deck is at about 30 meters, and the hangar deck is at about 42 meters. Another favorite is the HIJMS Nagato, 708 feet long and bristling with armament. For a complete list, check out our Bikini Atoll dive sites section.
Labuan in Malaysia
While Malaysia is famous for its muck diving and splendid walls, it is also home to some incredible shipwrecks. For example, the Tung Huang, which is nicknamed the "Cement Wreck" is home to a fantastic array of fish, crustaceans and invertebrates, even though it has only been resting here since 1980; with maximum depth at just 32 meters, this wreck is very easy to access and is often enjoyed as a second dive. Another favorite is the USS Salute, AM294; a minesweeper lost in June of 1945, she is covered by layer upon layer of coral and sponge, and is teeming with yellowtail barracuda and many smaller species. The SS DeClerk and the Mabini Padre are two additional Labuan wrecks not to be missed.
Just Gotta Dive (JGD) takes your safety seriously! Be sure you are properly trained and equipped before exploring these wrecks, and ensure your dive insurance is up to date as well. Our favorite wrecks are, as a rule, not generally those which are available to novice divers - they're deeper, darker places where time stands still and mysterious creatures hide in recesses. So, be safe! We want you to live to dive another day.