Best Wreck Diving Destinations
by Yannick SchrothAug 3, 20266 min read
Photo: Harvey Clements / Pexels.
The detail and the sourcing sit in each linked guide.
How we chose
Wrecks are selected here by depth and penetration, because those decide who can dive them: a wreck in 12 metres you can circle is a different proposition from one at 40 that needs training you may not have. We flag which is which. Nothing on this list requires overhead penetration to be worth the trip, and we would rather you did not until you are trained for it.
Coron, Palawan
A fleet of well-preserved WWII wrecks in warm, sheltered Palawan water.
WWII wreck fleetRead the guide → 8°20′S 115°41′E · IndonesiaAmed, Bali
The USAT Liberty at nearby Tulamben is one of the world's most accessible wrecks.
USAT Liberty, easyRead the guide → 36°02′N 14°14′E · MaltaGozo
Purpose-sunk and historic wrecks in clear Mediterranean water off Malta's Gozo.
Mediterranean wrecksRead the guide → 27°24′N 33°41′E · EgyptEl Gouna
A Red Sea base with access to famous wrecks, including the Thistlegorm by day boat or liveaboard.
Red Sea, ThistlegormRead the guide → 11°20′N 124°07′E · PhilippinesMalapascua
Wrecks alongside the famous dawn thresher-shark dives off this small Cebu island.
Wrecks + threshersRead the guide → 5°54′N 102°43′E · MalaysiaPerhentian Islands
Accessible wrecks in cheap, warm water off Malaysia's car-free islands.
Cheap, warmRead the guide →Picking a wreck-diving spot
- World-class WWII wrecks: Coron in Palawan.
- An easy, famous wreck for all levels: the USAT Liberty at Tulamben, from Amed.
- Mediterranean and Red Sea wrecks: Gozo and the Red Sea from El Gouna.
FAQ
Where is the best wreck diving?
Coron in Palawan is world-class, with a fleet of well-preserved WWII wrecks in warm, sheltered water. For a famous, accessible wreck suitable for most levels, the USAT Liberty at Tulamben (from Amed, Bali) is hard to beat. Gozo (Malta) and the Red Sea from El Gouna add historic and purpose-sunk wrecks.
Do I need special training for wreck diving?
To swim over and around wrecks, your Open Water certification is usually enough at recreational depths. To penetrate the inside of a wreck, you need proper wreck training and often the right equipment, because overhead environments carry real risk. Always stay within your certification and dive with a qualified guide.
Sources
- Every entry above is drawn from our own destination guide for that place, and the claims here are the ones those guides already verify: Coron, Palawan, Amed, Bali, Gozo, El Gouna, Malapascua, Perhentian Islands.