GOMBONG - Southern Islands

Gombong isn't your typical Singapore dive, and that's precisely why we love it. This isn't about deep reefs or pelagics; it’s about history, atmosphere, and the sheer joy of a proper wreck dive in shallow water. At a maximum depth of 6m, the MV Gombong is perfect for extended bottom times, letting you properly soak in the details. The wreck itself is a fascinating jumble of metal, having been sunk as a hazard to navigation back in the 1950s. We've spent many a dive here picking through the twisted hull sections, imagining its past life. Vis here can be "challenging," let's just say, but when it clears, the Gombong truly comes alive. We’ve seen schools of juvenile barracuda shimmering around the collapsed superstructure, and those little black-marble groupers are almost always lurking in the shadows. Look closely, and you’ll spot nudibranchs, flatworms, and the occasional cuttlefish camouflaged against the encrusted steel. Our favourite tip for Gombong: try to time your dive for slack tide and aim for an early morning entry – you often get the best light and the calmest conditions then. It’s a photographer’s dream when the conditions align.

Location: Southern Islands, Singapore, Southeast Asia
Coordinates: 0.916667, 103.216670
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 6m

Best Time to Dive in Southern Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Southern Islands occur in January, averaging 28.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 28.2°C (air: 26.0°C)
February: 28.2°C (air: 26.6°C)
March: 28.2°C (air: 27.1°C)
April: 28.2°C (air: 27.4°C)
May: 28.2°C (air: 27.9°C)
June: 28.2°C (air: 27.4°C)
July: 28.2°C (air: 27.5°C)
August: 28.2°C (air: 27.2°C)
September: 28.2°C (air: 27.2°C)
October: 28.2°C (air: 27.2°C)
November: 28.2°C (air: 26.5°C)
December: 28.2°C (air: 26.3°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to GOMBONG

Marine Life in Southern Islands

Home to 284 recorded species including 179 reef fish, 46 hard corals, 17 seagrass & algae, 13 sharks & rays, 8 sea snails & nudibranchs, 6 other.

Notable Species

Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
Species code: Si (Syringodium isoetifolium) - Seagrass & Algae
Brain coral (Platygyra sinensis) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora millepora) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
Honeycomb coral (Favites abdita) - Hard Corals
Galaxea coral (Galaxea astreata) - Hard Corals
Species code: Tc (Thalassodendron ciliatum) - Seagrass & Algae
Bristle-tailed Leatherjacket (Acreichthys tomentosus) - Reef Fish
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Butterfish (Scatophagus argus) - Reef Fish
Stony coral (Echinopora lamellosa) - Hard Corals
Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)

Recommended Packing List for GOMBONG

Based on average water temperature of 28.2°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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