wreck

Log This Dive

DAE YOUNG

The Dae Young, she’s a proper ship, not just a pile of scrap. We love how her bow pokes out of the water, a stark marker against the flat blue, then just drops away to the seabed. It’s an eerie feeling, seeing that exposed metal, knowing what lies beneath. She went down in ‘70, a motor vessel on her way to Keeling, and the years have been kind to her, allowing a good layer of growth to take hold. Our favourite part is the engine room, surprisingly accessible if you’re comfortable with overhead environments and have the right training. Light filters in, casting long shadows, and you’ll find schools of snapper schooling inside, along with a few resident lionfish tucked into corners. Outside, the decks are draped in soft corals, purple and green, with nudibranchs working their way along the railings. We’d suggest hitting this one early morning, before the currents pick up too much, for the best visibility. You’ll spend most of your dive around the 15-20 metre mark, with plenty to explore on the upper decks even if penetration isn't your thing. It’s a fantastic wreck dive for those who appreciate history and a good amount of marine life.