VAN DER WIJK - Bali

The Van der Wijk isn't for the faint of heart, or for those who skip their deep diver specialty. This is a serious wreck, resting at 42 metres, and we love it for its sheer scale and the history it represents. She’s a 97-metre steamship, sunk in 1936, and descending onto her deck feels like stepping back in time. What makes her special? The intact bow, for one, looming out of the blue, and the way the current often sweeps you along her length, giving you a proper sense of her size. We've spent dives just exploring the superstructure, carefully peeking into cargo holds now home to schools of snapper. Look closely and you’ll find nudibranchs clinging to the metal, and we've even spotted a few larger pelagics cruising past in the blue. This is a dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts who appreciate a deep, atmospheric site with a story to tell, and it’s always better if you hit it on an incoming tide when visibility tends to be at its best.

Location
Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-6.708337, 112.419240
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
42m

Best Time to Dive in Bali

The warmest water temperatures in Bali occur in December, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 29.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 30.1°C
  • February: 29.7°C
  • March: 30.1°C
  • April: 30.7°C
  • May: 30.6°C
  • June: 30.2°C
  • July: 29.4°C
  • August: 29.1°C
  • September: 29.3°C
  • October: 30.1°C
  • November: 30.9°C
  • December: 30.9°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Bali

Nearest Dive Centres to VAN DER WIJK

Marine Life in Bali

Home to 528 recorded species including 359 reef fish, 73 hard corals, 42 sharks & rays, 12 other, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 11 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for VAN DER WIJK

Based on average water temperature of 30.1°C, currents 3 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°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