TIMONEL - Subic Bay

The Timonel is a little tugboat, sunk deliberately in 1982 to create an artificial reef. Don’t expect a sprawling battleship, this is a compact, easily navigable wreck, sitting upright in just 10 metres of water. We love it as a warm-up dive, or a spot for photographers to really dial in their macro skills without worrying about depth or current. You can swim a full circuit of the deck in a few minutes, peering into the small wheelhouse where schools of glassfish often shimmer, reflecting the light from above. Its small size means sunlight penetrates everywhere, illuminating the soft corals and sponges that have colonised every surface. Look closely and you’ll find nudibranchs, flatworms, and we've even spotted a few elusive frogfish tucked amongst the growth. It’s an ideal site for newer wreck divers to get comfortable with penetration in a very low-risk environment, though there isn't much to penetrate beyond a small cargo hold. For experienced divers, it's a calm, shallow dive perfect for an easy afternoon, or for honing those camera skills.

Location
Subic Bay, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
14.565166, 120.968000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
10m

Marine Protected Area: Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA)/Las Piñas-Parañaque

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 TIMONEL

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 TIMONEL

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