STEEL VENDOR - Palawan
The Steel Vendor, resting off Palawan, isn't one of those wrecks that immediately screams "historic." She was a steamship, sunk in '71 after boiler trouble, a cargo vessel measuring a solid 150 metres. What we find interesting is how much of her remains, especially the superstructure. You can weave through the holds, imagining her last voyage from Manila to Saigon. Over the years, schooling fish have made her home, darting around the massive beams, and we’ve spotted giant trevally patrolling the deeper sections. It’s a great site for divers who appreciate exploring a larger structure, less about the grand history and more about the scale and the marine life that's slowly reclaimed it.
- Location
- Palawan, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 10.701667, 114.315000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Best Time to Dive in Palawan
The warmest water temperatures in Palawan occur in January, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- February: 29.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- March: 29.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- April: 29.0°C (air: 28.6°C)
- May: 29.0°C (air: 29.1°C)
- June: 29.0°C (air: 28.5°C)
- July: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- August: 29.0°C (air: 28.4°C)
- September: 29.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- October: 29.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- November: 29.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- December: 29.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Palawan
- Alicia Annie Reef (reef)
- Amy Douglas Reef (reef)
- An Nhon Nam Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Ardasier Reef (reef)
- ASIA PACIFIC - 0m (wreck)
- Bahura
- Bãi cạn Nâu Bắc Lớn - 5-15m (reef)
- Baker Reef (reef)
- Baker Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Baker Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Bamford Reef (reef)
- Bamford Reef (reef)
- Barque Canada Reef (reef)
- Bin Reef (reef)
- Block 1
Marine Life in Palawan
Home to 6 recorded species including 2 other, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 whales & dolphins, 1 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Fig cone (Conus figulinus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Noble Cone (Conus nobilis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Bluespotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) - Sharks & Rays
Recommended Packing List for STEEL VENDOR
Based on average water temperature of 29.0°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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