BALDER CHUANCHOW - Subic Bay

The Balder Chuanchow isn’t a deep dive, sitting at just 4m, which honestly makes it one of our favourite easy afternoon trips when we’re in Subic. This carrier vessel ran aground back in '87, and while "dangerous wreck" sounds a bit dramatic, it just means it's been left alone, giving marine life plenty of time to move in. You can still see the sheer scale of the ship, even with much of it broken up. We love finning over the huge, flattened sections of hull, feeling the surge gentle push and pull us. Look for schools of juvenile barracuda shimmering just beneath the surface, almost invisible until you’re right on them. The growth on the metal is impressive; think dense carpets of small anemones and colourful soft corals, especially where the light catches it just right. It’s perfect for new divers or anyone looking for a relaxed, long bottom time to practice their photography. Try to hit it on a calm morning; visibility usually holds best before the afternoon breeze picks up.

Location
Subic Bay, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
16.629168, 120.291115
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
4m

Wreck History - BALDER CHUANCHOW

Year Sunk
1987
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The Balder Chuanchow was a cargo vessel built in Japan in 1966. Its career came to an abrupt end on December 6, 1987, while it was entering the historic Subic Bay. The ship ran hard aground, and despite efforts to salvage it, the damage was too severe. The vessel was declared a total loss and subsequently abandoned where it lay, left to the elements and the sea.

Lying in just 4 meters of water, the wreck is now a fantastic site for beginner divers, snorkelers, and those looking for a relaxed exploration. Decades of submersion have turned the decaying structure into a bustling artificial reef. The shallow depth allows sunlight to penetrate, illuminating the corals and sponges that encrust the hull and attracting schools of reef fish. Divers can easily navigate the wreck's remains, observing how nature has steadily reclaimed this man-made structure in one of the Philippines' most famous wreck-diving destinations.

Marine Protected Area: BalBaSan La Union

Best Time to Dive in Subic Bay

The warmest water temperatures in Subic Bay occur in May, averaging 31.4°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 28.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.4°C
  • February: 28.2°C
  • March: 29.4°C
  • April: 30.5°C
  • May: 31.4°C
  • June: 31.3°C
  • July: 30.8°C
  • August: 29.8°C
  • September: 30.0°C
  • October: 30.4°C
  • November: 30.4°C
  • December: 29.4°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Subic Bay

Nearest Dive Centres to BALDER CHUANCHOW

Marine Life in Subic Bay

Home to 63 recorded species including 49 reef fish, 6 seagrass & algae, 5 hard corals, 2 sharks & rays, 1 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BALDER CHUANCHOW

Based on average water temperature of 30.0°C, currents 3 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