wreck

Log This Dive

XING DA

The Xing Da is a big, fascinating piece of metal, one of our favourite North Shore wrecks. She’s not ancient history, scuttled in ‘97, but that just means she’s settled into her new life as an artificial reef beautifully. Dropping onto her deck at 33 metres, you immediately feel the scale of this old carrier vessel. We love tracing the length of her, nearly 70 metres of twisted steel and open holds. What makes Xing Da special is how quickly the marine life has moved in. Schools of silversides shimmer through the cargo bays, so thick sometimes you’re practically swimming through them, and the resident barracuda always seem to be lurking, watching you with that unblinking stare. Look closely, and you’ll find plenty of smaller stuff too, little crabs tucked into crevices and parrotfish grazing on the soft corals that are slowly, steadily claiming the metal. It’s a dive that rewards exploration, whether you're poking into the bridge area or just circling the perimeter to appreciate the sheer size of her. We’d suggest a calm morning, the viz tends to be clearer then, letting you see the whole wreck spread out beneath you.