ASIAN MARINER

Protected Area

澎湖縣貓嶼野生動物重要棲息環境

Why dive here

With 537+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, giant moray eels, seahorses, sea turtles and sperm whales - ASIAN MARINER offers some of Kenting National Park's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeBarracuda, Giant Moray Eels, Seahorses, Sea Turtles and Sperm Whales · 537+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 36m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Asian Mariner is a proper wreck dive, not just some scattered debris. We love how it still looks like a ship, upright and largely intact despite being down since '73. Dropping down to 36 metres, you’ll find its sheer size impressive – 103 metres long, it dominates the seafloor. We’d suggest focusing on the superstructure first; the bridge area is always fascinating, with gantries and winches now encrusted with sponges and hard corals. Look for the schools of bigeye trevally that often swirl around the mast, a shimmering column of silver. Inside, we’ve found robust lionfish tucked into shadowed corners, and occasionally, a passing reef shark cruises by the bow. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of depth, certainly not for beginners.

Typical ASIAN MARINER Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Deep dive (36m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today05:4318:2912h 47m daylightGolden hour 17:59

ASIAN MARINER Wreck History

Year Sunk

1973

Vessel Type

cargo ship

Cause

storm

The Asian Mariner had a long career, built in 1940 by Harimo Zosensho in Aioi, Japan. For over three decades, she served as a carrier vessel, plying the waters of East Asia. Her final voyage began in October 1973, when she departed Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with a destination of Camarines Norte in the Philippines. She would never arrive.

Caught in the ferocious grip of a typhoon, the vessel was overwhelmed by the sea and sank on October 11, 1973. The ship came to rest on the seabed about 60 miles northwest of its intended course, forever changing its identity from a working vessel to an artificial reef.

Today, the Asian Mariner lies at a depth of 36 meters within the protected waters of Kenting National Park. This depth makes it a fantastic dive for advanced and technical divers. Over the decades, the wreck has become completely colonized by marine life, with large schools of fish, vibrant corals, and various macro critters making their home on its steel structure. Exploring the ghostly remains of this typhoon victim is a highlight of diving in southern Taiwan.