wreck

Log This Dive

Wreck Taman Nukila

Okay, so Taman Nukila, right in Ternate’s backyard, is a bit of an odd duck. It's not your usual remote wreck expedition, but that's what we love about it. You’ve got two wrecks here: one’s a natural sinking, the KM Pari, which sits a little deeper, down to about 23m. The other, an illegal fishing boat, was purposely sunk by the Navy at 19m. The visibility averages 16m, so it’s not always pristine, but it’s enough to get a good sense of the shape as you approach. What you'll find is a cool juxtaposition of metal and life. Schools of fusiliers and snapper hang around the superstructure, shimmering in the beams of light that break through the surface. We always spot painted spiny lobsters tucked into crevices, their antennae waving gently. Look closely, and you’ll often find frogfish camouflaged on the decks, or green shrimp doing their meticulous cleaning. It’s a site for divers who appreciate the way human history slowly gets reclaimed by the ocean, and it's surprisingly accessible from Ternate's city centre. Our pick is to go early, before any local boat traffic picks up.