IRAN EHSAN - Subic Bay
The *Iran Ehsan* is a fantastic Subic Bay wreck, and for many, our top pick. This massive cargo ship, scuttled in 1991, lies completely on its side, making for some truly disorienting navigation – a good challenge for the experienced wreck diver. We love dropping down onto the huge hull, running our hands over the thick rust, feeling the slight current push us along. Entry is straightforward enough, often just a short boat ride out of town. You’ll spend most of your dive exploring the massive cargo holds, where shafts of light penetrate from above, illuminating schools of fusiliers so thick they almost block your view. Keep an eye out for batfish and snapper lurking in the shadows, and we’ve even spotted big groupers here. The engine room is a highlight, but it’s a tight squeeze and definitely for those comfortable with overhead environments. If you’re into big metal and a good swim-through challenge, this one’s for you.
- Location
- Subic Bay, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 16.066668, 120.100000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 0m
Marine Protected Area: Hundred Island National Park
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
- BALDER CHUANCHOW - 4m (wreck)
- BCL - 6m (wreck)
- CAPTAIN UFUK - 8m (wreck)
- CEBU CITY - 27m (wreck)
- CLYDESDALE IV - 5m (wreck)
- Coral Garden (reef)
- DA'KUDOS Beach Resort
- DONA CORAZON II - 0m (wreck)
- Douglas Skyraider (Wreck) - 31m (wreck)
- EILEEN RACHEL - 1m (wreck)
- El Capitan (USS Majaba) - 20m (wreck)
- FEOSO SUN - 24m (wreck)
- FERNANDO J-1 - 20m (wreck)
- FU SAN - 5m (wreck)
- GENERAL SANTOS CITY - 25m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to IRAN EHSAN
- Arizona Dive Shop - PADI
- Blueworld Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Camayan Divers - ["PADI"]
- Dive Buddies Philippines - ["PADI"]
- Divers Point
- Ocean Deep - Diver Training Center (PADI)
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
- Flagfin Mojarra (Gerres filamentosus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crescent Grunter (Terapon jarbua) - Reef Fish
- Bar Eyed Goby (Glossogobius giuris) - Reef Fish
- Green Rrough-backed Puffer (Lagocephalus lunaris) - Reef Fish
- Silver Sillago (Sillago sihama) - Reef Fish
- Common Ponyfish (Leiognathus equula) - Reef Fish
- Toothed Ponyfish (Gazza minuta) - Reef Fish
- Blacktip Ponyfish (Eubleekeria splendens) - Reef Fish
- Honeycomb coral (Favites abdita) - Hard Corals
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Six-banded Rock Cod (Epinephelus sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Silverfish (Trichiurus lepturus) - Reef Fish
- Silver Javelin (Pomadasys argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora millepora) - Hard Corals
- Canif (Aeoliscus strigatus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfish (Scatophagus argus) - Reef Fish
- Puntang Goby (Exyrias puntang) - Reef Fish
- Giant Herring (Elops hawaiensis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for IRAN EHSAN
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