KWANG MYUNG NO 65 - Upolu
The Kwang Myung No. 65 isn’t deep, and that’s precisely why we love it. This old fishing vessel, sunk back in '82, sits upright just below the surface, its superstructure breaking the water on a low tide. It’s an ideal spot for a long, relaxed dive or even a snorkel if you just want to poke around. We often find ourselves circling the wheelhouse, imagining the last moments of its working life before it became an artificial reef. What makes it special for us is the way the light filters through the shallows, illuminating every barnacle and frond of soft coral. Schools of small silver fish shimmer around the mast, and we’ve spotted moray eels peeking from shadowed nooks in the hull. The visibility here is usually excellent, making it easy to appreciate the scale of the wreck, even close up. It’s not a drift dive, so you can really take your time, exploring the decks and the growth that's completely taken over the metalwork. Our favourite time to visit is mid-morning, just as the sun gets high enough to really penetrate the water, painting the wreck in blues and greens.
- Location
- Upolu, Samoa, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -14.297500, -170.671500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Best Time to Dive in Upolu
The warmest water temperatures in Upolu occur in January, averaging 29.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.4°C (air: 26.7°C)
- February: 29.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
- March: 29.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
- April: 29.4°C (air: 27.0°C)
- May: 29.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- June: 29.4°C (air: 26.2°C)
- July: 29.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
- August: 29.4°C (air: 25.6°C)
- September: 29.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
- October: 29.4°C (air: 26.1°C)
- November: 29.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
- December: 29.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Upolu
- Amuula Rock (reef)
- Apia Harbour Wreck - 10-20m (wreck)
- Nāfanua Bank (reef)
- NAM HAE NO.255 - 0m (wreck)
- Namua Island - 3-15m (reef)
- Palolo Deep Marine Reserve - 5-30m (reef)
- Tāemā Bank (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to KWANG MYUNG NO 65
Marine Life in Upolu
Home to 461 recorded species including 339 reef fish, 70 hard corals, 16 sea snails & nudibranchs, 8 sea cucumbers, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Black Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma quinquevittatum) - Reef Fish
- Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded-tail Coral-cod (Cephalopholis urodeta) - Reef Fish
- Black Butterflyfish (Chaetodon reticulatus) - Reef Fish
- Pinktail triggerfish (Melichthys vidua) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
- Arc-eye Hawkfish (Paracirrhites arcatus) - Reef Fish
- Corrugated coral (Pavona varians) - Hard Corals
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Japanese Parrotfish (Chlorurus japanensis) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius) - Reef Fish
- Charcoal damsel (Pomacentrus brachialis) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for KWANG MYUNG NO 65
Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories