Wreck diving in Malaysia

Wreck diving is something special. On the Malaysian west coast, Pangkor, Pulau Sembilan, or even Pulau Payar we have not the possibility to do some wreck diving. However, at Perhentian island, there are two wrecks available. These wrecks are merely for reef diving then real wreck diving.

Is it therefore less interesting? No way! The wreck is an artificial reef with everything you expect you can find. It always amazes what garbage of humans left in the ocean, is in another way taken back, or should I say, taken back, by the sea.

For more serious wreck diving we have to go to Bali. But let's have a look at Perhentian first.

• Vietnamese wreck
• Sugar wreck

The following descriptions are from Anuar Abdullah, a local diver who has been diving for more than 17 years in east and west Malaysia, has logged more then 6000 dives and knows Perhentian by heart.

Vietnamese Wreck

There are no records of when and why exactly this ship sank.  The only fact that locals can recall is that it is Vietnamese. The wreck is a twin-screw landing craft that was used by Vietnamese refugees to flee and find freedom from the tyranny of communism in their country in the 1980's. 

She found her final resting place under 22 meters of water on a sandy bottom. She lays turned turtle with all her superstructure broken apart and sunken in the soft sand. Some parts of her starboard hull structure have fallen apart, leaving a large opening for divers to swim through.

Now after many years on the ocean floor, she supports a huge variety of marine life. Bivalves make up most of the sides and overhangs on the wreck. Soft coral, Seafans and gorgonians cover the upper part of the structure.

Generations of dead clams and mussels have dropped to the bottom forming a rubble bed in the surrounding area. The rubble bed is home to stonefish, scorpion fish and several species of nudibranch. 

Barracudas are often seen under the overhanging parts of the hull, which has been eaten up by corrosion. Big eye snappers and chromis swarm the upper side of the wreck. Reef fish like Blue ring angelfish and butterfly fish can also be found on this wreck. 

Several species of boxfish and puffers are part of the long list of fish that inhabit the Vietnamese Wreck. Tidal and sea conditions affect visibility at this dive site.  Surface and underwater currents can be strong.  Best diving normally occurs just moments before slack tide. 

A mooring line is attached to the starboard propeller shaft and it is used as a descent line for divers. Pieces of debris can be found on the stern side of the wreck. On occasion there is a leopard shark that visits the wreck and the surrounding areas. Special precautions are required when diving at this wreck.

As almost the entire dive is spent at or near the bottom; the dives are normally regarded as ‘square profile’ where decompression obligations and air consumption must be closely monitored. This wreck is located just minutes to the southwest of Perhentian Kechil and is one of the most popular diving sites.

Sugar Wreck

Sugar Wreck is a sunken freighter located just off the shores of Kuala Besut, west of Perhentian Kecil. A cardinal buoy marks her resting place. She lays in 18 meters of water on her starboard, her bow pointing northeast and parts of her gentry cranes and cargo hatches strewn on the bottom in the vicinity.

Sugar Wreck sank in the monsoon of 1999. Being recent, the wreck harbors little marine growth, but fish are abundant. The tidal stream affects diving at this site. Diving at the wreck is best during a new moon. At this time, tidal changes are insignificant, causing little or no currents. Visibility also improves as there is no stir up.

A large school of juvenile barracuda can be found around the wreck, especially near the cargo hold and wheel house. Red snappers and sweetlips are plenty too.

Shipwrecks are usually home to many species of venomous fish, like lionfish, scorpion fish and stonefish. Most conspicuous at the Sugar Wreck are the Plain Tailed Lionfish (Pterois ruselli). The shallowest part of this wreck is only 6 meters below the surface. A mooring line is attached to the superstructure at this point. Like Tokong Laut, the Sugar Wreck is one of the most popular dive sites in Perhentian.

Bali, Island of the Gods (WWII Wreck and Critter Trip)

Serious wreck diving can take place around Bali.  Shipwrecks including the famed USS Liberty which sunk during the Great War are here.  Imran Ahmad, an established underwater photographer and a dive tour operator invite you to come along with him to enjoy these wonders.

New dive sites of Seraya and Lovina are waiting to be discovered.  A lot of macro creatures and pelagic encounter are expected.  With the recent change in water temperature, hammerheads in Salang and mola mola in Penida have starting to appear, signaling the time for an incredible show of these amazing sea creatures. 

Other stops in the itinerary are Tulemben, Menjangan Island and Gili.  Price starts at USD300.00 for a 5 Days 4 Nights dive vacation. 

Ask Imran Ahmad about his trips now.

Why should you go diving with Imran (or affectionately known as Imp)?

Since young, Imp was influenced by his father, who is also an avid photographer. Eventually, he went to SAE Technology College in Singapore to study Digital Film and Media.

Becoming certified as a scuba diver opened new doors for more exciting subjects for his lenses. He spent some years as an apprentice at a dive center in Singapore after qualifying as a PADI Dive Instructor. Over here, he learned the ins and outs of running a dive operation, leading tours and also the practicing essential safety parts of diving. 

To date, he has logged over 4000 dives and led over 300 outbound excursions to exotic places for diving, especially the remote islands of Indonesia. These islands hold a special spot in his heart as they are truly the last place on earth to be explored in terms of virgin coral reefs. Part of the charm of these far away places includes diverse cultural and local sensibilities that are very unique.

As a result, Imp discovered some secret dive sites which are the havens for a lot of very rare sea animals... and a heaven on earth for macro underwater photographers.

His skills as an accomplished scuba diver and a master with a camera is a lethal combination in the field.  Look through at the portfolio of Imp's work and you would understand what I mean.

Always preaching safety and caring for the nature, his  company motto is "Always Searching, Never Destroying". That is what I always look for myself when I go out diving. Have a fantastic trip!  

Contact him now or check out for more trips on live on board vessels in Komodo National Park.

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