GLEN MACWILLIAM

Best months: Apr–Jul

Protected Area

'Utungake SMA

Why dive here

With 312+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, giant moray eels, humpback whales, sperm whales and whitetip reef sharks - GLEN MACWILLIAM offers some of Vava'u Group's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 25-29°C, warmest January, February, March.

Best timeApr–Jul

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Giant Moray Eels, Humpback Whales, Sperm Whales and Whitetip Reef Sharks · 312+ species recorded

Water25-29°C · warmest January, February, March

CharacterWreck dive · max 40m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

We love a good wreck, and the Glen MacWilliam is a corker, especially if you’re into a bit of history with your dive. She’s a decent sized steamship, 115 metres long, sunk after a copra fire back in the day, though we hear the chromium ore cargo she was carrying is worth a fortune now. The wreck sits at 40 metres, making it a dive for those comfortable with deeper profiles. Descending onto the Glen MacWilliam, you really get a sense of her scale. The bow comes into view first, then the huge superstructure looming out of the blue. You can spend a good chunk of your bottom time just circumnavigating her, marvelling at how completely the reef has taken hold. Schools of fusiliers swirl around the mast, so thick they occasionally block the light, and we've spotted resident trevally patrolling the decks. The cargo holds are open, offering some intriguing swim-throughs, but watch your buoyancy – it’s easy to stir up the silt. We'd suggest going early in the morning for the best visibility and fewer other divers. This site is a proper deep wreck dive, great for experienced divers who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a current sometimes.