VIRGEN DE LA PAZ (PROBABLY) - Subic Bay
The *Virgen de la Paz*, or what we *think* is the *Virgen de la Paz*, offers a proper dive into Subic’s history. This 71-metre inter-island freighter went down in '90 after a collision, and she sits upright at 36 metres, mostly intact. We love exploring the bridge area, though it's getting pretty silty these days, so good buoyancy is key if you want to poke around inside without causing a total blackout. The main deck is fantastic, a wide expanse covered in tubastrea corals, their orange polyps brilliant when they're open. Look for lionfish tucked into every nook and cranny, and we’ve seen some decent schools of snapper holding around the cargo holds. It’s a dive for those who appreciate a wreck with a story, especially if you enjoy the thrill of exploring slightly deeper, darker spaces. Just keep an eye on your no-decompression limits, it's easy to get lost in the details here.
- Location
- Subic Bay, Philippines, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 14.448500, 120.714670
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 36m
Marine Protected Area: Marine Reserve No.1
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 VIRGEN DE LA PAZ (PROBABLY)
- 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 VIRGEN DE LA PAZ (PROBABLY)
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