GICHOON

Best months: Jan–Mar

Why dive here

With 263+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue-spotted stingrays, dugongs, giant moray eels, seahorses and sea turtles - GICHOON offers some of Southern Islands's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest May, June, November.

Best timeJan–Mar

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue-Spotted Stingrays, Dugongs, Giant Moray Eels, Seahorses and Sea Turtles · 263+ species recorded

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

CharacterWreck dive · max 2m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Gichoon, for all its shallow drama, is a fascinating spot, a real standout in Singapore’s dive landscape. We love how the story of its grounding in ‘96 is etched into the very structure. At just 2 metres, it’s less a dive and more a sub-surface exploration, perfect for a long snorkel or a very relaxed dive when the tides are right. You’re looking at the remains of a container ship, draped across the rocks, with parts of the hull and superstructure still proudly breaking the surface. It’s a riot of colour down there, with soft corals and sponges clinging to every available surface. Schools of rabbitfish graze the encrusted metal, and we often spot damselfish darting in and out of the nooks. It's an intimate wreck, best explored slowly, letting your eyes adjust to the intricate ecosystem that has claimed this old ship. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs, too. They love the varied textures here. Our favourite time to visit is on a slack tide, mid-morning, when the light penetrates beautifully, illuminating the wreck in a dappled glow.