Douglas Skyraider (Wreck) - Subic Bay

Dropping onto the Douglas Skyraider, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale. It’s a beast of a plane, a relic from the Vietnam War era, resting upright on the seabed at 31 metres. We love how intact it still is, especially the cockpit area. Peering inside, you can almost imagine the pilot still there, though these days the seat is occupied by a grumpy stonefish or a curious lionfish. The propellor blades are bent back, a testament to its impact, and the wings stretch out, providing plenty of nooks and crannies for exploration. Look closely and you’ll find nudibranchs crawling along the corroded metal, and schools of silver fish darting through the open fuselage. It’s an intermediate dive, the depth making it unsuitable for absolute beginners, but if you’ve got a few dives under your belt and a love for history, this is our pick in Subic. We always try to time our dive for mid-morning when the light penetrates best, giving the whole site a wonderfully eerie glow. Keep an eye out for the resident moray eel that sometimes pokes its head out near the tail section.

Location
Subic Bay, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
14.795400, 120.249800
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
31m
Difficulty
Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: Sabang Marine Protected Area

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 Douglas Skyraider (Wreck)

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 Douglas Skyraider (Wreck)

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