wreck

Log This Dive

KYORYU MARU

The *Kyoryu Maru* doesn’t always make the top ten lists for Southeast Asia, but we love it for its quiet dignity. This 1972 casualty, sunk after a collision, sits upright at 31 metres, making it an advanced dive. It’s got that classic freighter outline, surprisingly intact, with the bow and stern still well-defined. We find ourselves drawn to the midships, where the superstructure has collapsed just enough to create swim-throughs for the more confident wreck diver. What really gets us about the *Kyoryu Maru* is the life it holds. Look closely and you’ll spot nudibranchs, often on the decaying metal plates. Schools of fusiliers swirl overhead, their silver scales catching the light filtering down. Our favourite parts are the hold areas, now open to the current and home to batfish and even the occasional barracuda, just cruising the edges of the wreck. Visibility in Singapore can be variable, so aim for a neap tide and try to hit it early in the morning for the best chance of decent light penetration and fewer divers. It’s a proper wreck dive, best suited for those comfortable with depth and overhead environments, offering a tangible piece of maritime history.