BALDER CHUANCHOW

Best months: Jan–Dec

Protected Area

BalBaSan La Union

Why dive here

With 57+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks - BALDER CHUANCHOW offers some of Subic Bay's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest May, June, July.

Marine lifeBlacktip Reef Sharks · 57+ species recorded

Water28-31°C · warmest May, June, July

CharacterWreck dive · max 4m

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.

Typical BALDER CHUANCHOW Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Today05:4518:2012h 34m daylightGolden hour 17:51

BALDER CHUANCHOW Wreck History

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.