The list of best wreck dives in the world, as voted for by our readers. How many have you dived? All the wrecks but one are in warm water. The cold water representative is at Scotland’s Scapa Flow. Most of these wrecks are notable not just for being wrecks, but also for the amount of sea life they attract. Let us know what you think of the list, and tell us your favourites.
See also the best 100 dives and top 10 dives in Europe.
The Yongala, Australia
The Yongala is a shipwreck off the coast of Queensland. Full of life you may see manta rays, sea snakes, octopuses, turtles, bull sharks, tiger sharks, clouds of fish and spectacular coral.
The Yongala sank during a cyclone in 1911 killing 122 people, a racehorse called Moonshine and a red Lincolnshire bull. She had no telegraph facilities and so could not be warned of the weather ahead. In 1981 the Yongala was given official protection under the Historic Shipwrecks Act. The ship is 90 km southeast of Townsville, 10 km away form Cape Bowling Green. 109 meters long, the bow points north and the ship lists to starboard.
Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea
You’ll need to do this more than once to explore more than a tiny part of the wreck.
Thistlegorm is Gaelic for Blue Thistle. A British vessel, it was attacked from the air and sunk in 1941 whilst carrying a cargo of war supplies: rifles, motor bikes, train carriages, trucks. A big wreck – 131 metres long. Currents can be strong, and in different directions at the surface and at the wreck.
The Thistlegorm is in the Strait of Gobal, north of Ras Mohammed near Sharm El-Sheikh.
USS Liberty Glo, Bali, Indonesia
The Liberty lies on a black sand slope, almost parallel to the beach and is only 30 m offshore. She lies in 9-30 m of water and is totally encrusted in anemone, gorgonians and corals. The wreck is 120 m long and is pretty broken up so you can’t entery it, but you can still see the guns, toilets, boilers, anchor chain and such like. It is a lovely dive site, possibly the world’s easiest wreck dive.
President Coolidge, Vanuatu
Originally a large, luxury, liner, the President Coolidge became a troop carrier during the war. She sank after hitting mines. The wreck now lies on its side between 17 and 70 m, bow to stern. The President Coolidge is fully protected by law and both it and the surrounding seabed has been designated a Marine Reserve. The wreck is huge and needs several dives to do it justice.
The Zenobia, Cyprus
The MS Zenobia was a roll-on roll-off ferry which launched in 1979 and sank in 1980 on her maiden voyage. No lives were lost. She lies on her side, outside Lanarka harbour. The dive starts at 16 m with a maximum depth of 42 m. Another large wreck, with plenty of sea life, demanding several dives.
Hilma Hooker, Bonaire Lies on the sandy bottom of a beautifully reefed slope. Big, big wreck with sponges, pristine coral, terrific sea fans and loads of fish. A dive with something for everyone.
Wreck of the Bahama Mama, New Providence, Bahamas
Once a party cruise ship which was sunk in 1995. A very good place to see sharks up close. Plus it is a lovely little wreck on the edge of a reef with shoals of other fish
Umbria, Sudan
A huge spooky castle of a wreck covered by corals loaded with 36000 aircraft bombs, cars, wine bottles and so on. The site is visited by manta rays, whale sharks and, at night, tiger sharks. You’ll probably be alone on the wreck due to the small numbers of divers visiting Sudan.
Rainbow Warrier, New Zealand
In 1985 the French sank Greenpeace’s flagship, the Rainbow Warrier, to stop her interfering in a nuclear test. Jewel ananomies, are stunning, and the wildlife abundant including large rays and often dolphins and sharks.
Blockship Tabarka, Scapa Flow, Orkney
In the north of Scotland many ships were sank during both wars as part of coastal defences. These are known as “Blockships”. Tabarka was one of the last to be sunk and is upside down with numerous entry points. Covered inside with marine life: anemones, lobsters, starfish, urchins, wrasse…this is an easy penetration dive. Light streams into the hull through the many access and exit points. Wonderful dive
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Photos copyright Tim Nicholson, Graham Collins and Agsftw.
Previous editions of SCUBA News are archived at http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/news.html
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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
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