MARVIN 1 (POSSIBLY) - Tioman Island
The Marvin 1 is a proper piece of history resting just off Tioman, and frankly, we love it. This 63-meter tanker went down in 1992 after taking on water in rough seas, and it’s now a fantastic artificial reef. Dropping onto the deck at around 20 metres, you immediately feel the scale of the vessel. We’d suggest exploring the stern first, where the propeller still sits, then working your way along the superstructure. The ship is largely intact, creating loads of swim-throughs and sheltered spots for marine life. Inside, you might find schools of snapper or even a turtle taking a nap. Look closely at the hull for nudibranchs and flatworms, while giant groupers often patrol the deeper sections. Currents can pick up, so we usually aim for a slack tide dive to properly soak it all in. This is a solid wreck dive for anyone comfortable with deeper sites and keen to see how nature reclaims these hulking metal structures.
- Location
- Tioman Island, Malaysia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 3.720417, 103.811950
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
Marine Protected Area: Kuala Pahang Wildlife Reserve
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 MARVIN 1 (POSSIBLY)
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 MARVIN 1 (POSSIBLY)
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