HMS BANKA - Tioman Island
HMS Banka isn’t your typical shallow Tioman wreck. At 55 metres, this is serious technical diving territory, and we love it for its quiet, sombre atmosphere. She’s a coaster, pressed into service as a minesweeper, and went down in December 1941, just days after HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. You feel that history when you descend; the sheer depth strips away the usual buzz of a dive site, leaving just the hulk and the vast blue. The wreck itself is intact but well-encrusted. Coral has completely taken over the deck and superstructure, forming intricate patterns that hide small nudibranchs if you look closely. We’ve spotted large groupers lurking in the shadows of the holds, and often see schools of barracuda circling the mast. Penetration is possible for experienced tech divers, though the silt can be easily disturbed, so buoyancy is key. This is a dive for those who appreciate history and the silent grandeur of a deep wreck, not for reef fanatics. Go early to avoid currents, and make sure your gas planning is spot on.
- Location
- Tioman Island, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 3.171000, 104.364500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 55m
Marine Protected Area: Pulau Ceben Marine Park
Best Time to Dive in Tioman Island
The warmest water temperatures in Tioman Island occur in May, averaging 30.7°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C
- February: 28.3°C
- March: 29.1°C
- April: 30.6°C
- May: 30.7°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.7°C
- August: 29.5°C
- September: 29.6°C
- October: 30.3°C
- November: 30.0°C
- December: 28.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Tioman Island
- ANN TONG - 4m (wreck)
- Bahai - 15m
- Bahara Rocks
- Bali Hai Divers House Reef (reef)
- Bamboo SeaSport - 5-18m (reef)
- Batu Katoaka (reef)
- Batu Mumbang - 16m
- Berlabuh - 20m
- B&J
- Blue Heaven Divers
- Bugis - 19m
- Bunker (reef)
- Captain point
- Coral Garden (reef)
- Courier (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to HMS BANKA
Marine Life in Tioman Island
Home to 118 recorded species including 75 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 8 sharks & rays, 7 seagrass & algae, 5 sea cucumbers, 3 other.
Notable Species
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Yellowstripe scad (Selaroides leptolepis) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Forest Halfbeak (Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus) - Reef Fish
- Blackstripe coris (Coris pictoides) - Reef Fish
- Rock Cod (Cephalopholis boenak) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Curryfish (Stichopus vastus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Star Blaasop (Arothron stellatus) - Reef Fish
- Indian Scad (Decapterus russelli) - Reef Fish
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Redspine Threadfin Bream (Nemipterus nemurus) - Reef Fish
- cowry (Monetaria moneta) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Recommended Packing List for HMS BANKA
Based on average water temperature of 29.6°C, currents 20 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