wreck

Log This Dive

DONA LILIAN

For those days when you’ve had your fill of Siargao’s reef dives, the Dona Lilian is a welcome change of pace. This isn’t a shallow, coral-encrusted wreck. She sits upright on the seabed at 45 metres, a proper deep dive that we think is best for experienced wreck enthusiasts. The visibility here is usually pretty good, and the dark silhouette of the 63-metre carrier vessel comes into view slowly, almost majestically, as you descend. Built in 1967, the Dona Lilian sank in 1982 en route from Bislig to Surigao City. The cause remains a mystery, adding a layer of intrigue to the dive. We love poking around the bridge area, though much of the superstructure has deteriorated over the decades. What you’ll find now is a skeleton of metal, home to some seriously chunky groupers and schools of snapper that swirl around the cargo holds. There’s a quietness down there, a real sense of history. Keep an eye out for lionfish tucked into the crevices and the occasional moray eel peering out from the deeper sections. Our pick for timing is late morning, after the current has settled a bit.