Trip Report · 02 Nov 2025
There's something magical — and a little haunting — about descending through the blue and watching the shadow of a shipwreck appear beneath you. Wrecks combine adventure, mystery, and marine beauty all in one dive. Here are eight bucket-list destinations for wreck enthusiasts.
Known as "the Holy Grail" of wreck diving, this former Japanese naval base was devastated by Operation Hailstone in 1944, which sank over 60 ships and 250 aircraft. The wrecks sit at depths of 9–40 metres in clear, warm waters. Notable artefacts include tanks, trucks, sake bottles, and even porcelain dishes still sitting on dining tables. A stand-out dive is the Fujikawa Maru freighter.
Sunk in 1941 by a German air raid, this is one of the world's most photographed wrecks, resting at roughly 30 metres. Divers encounter motorbikes, trucks, rifles, and even rubber boots preserved inside. The site is accessible from Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada and suits advanced open water divers.
This location features more than ten Japanese WWII shipwrecks in turquoise waters surrounded by limestone cliffs. The Akitsushima warship, with its crane still intact, is a highlight. Some wrecks accommodate recreational divers while others appeal to technical divers.
Called Australia's best dive site, this 110-metre wreck sank in 1911 and remained undiscovered for decades. It now functions as an underwater reef system hosting massive groupers, sea snakes, eagle rays, and even the occasional bull shark. Internal penetration is prohibited for safety, and the best diving is from March through June.
This site marks the deliberate 1919 scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet, with 52 ships sunk at the end of the First World War. The wrecks — primarily battleships and cruisers — rest between 14 and 40 metres deep in cold water with limited visibility. Dry suit certification is mandatory.
The USAT Liberty, a WWII cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, sits just 25 metres from shore — making it one of the world's best shore-accessible wrecks. Soft corals cover the hull, and depths range from 5 to 30 metres, accommodating both beginners and advanced divers.
The SS President Coolidge, once a luxury liner and later a troop transport, ranks among the largest and most intact wrecks you can explore, lying between 20 and 70 metres deep. Divers can access the upper decks as recreational divers or explore deeper areas including the famous "Lady" statue and chandeliers.
Described as the "Wreck Capital of the Atlantic," Bermuda boasts over 300 shipwrecks ranging from 17th-century sailing vessels to 20th-century freighters. Notable dives include the Mary Celestia (a Civil War blockade runner) and the Cristóbal Colón (a luxury liner). Visibility can reach 30 metres.
Wreck diving is a journey through history — a way to connect with humanity's long relationship with the sea, one bucket-list destination at a time.