wreck

Log This Dive

LAERTES

The LAERTES is Singapore wreck diving. Don't come here expecting pristine reefs or technicolor corals. This is about history, about penetration if you’re properly trained, and about an unexpected amount of life making a home out of cold steel. She’s a decent size at nearly 100 meters long, a steamship that went down in 1917 after a collision on its way from Rangoon. That history alone, knowing you’re touching a century-old piece of the past, is what makes it special for us. We usually drop onto the stern, which is still quite intact, and you can swim through various compartments if you're comfortable with overhead environments. The bow is more broken up, but it makes for some dramatic swim-throughs as the metal plates peel back like rusted flowers. Visibility here is... well, it's Singapore. Expect anywhere from a murky 3 meters to a respectable 10 meters on a good day, but that just adds to the atmosphere. Our favourite finds are always the big groupers lurking in the shadows and the surprising number of schooling snapper that drift over the deck. It’s a site for experienced wreck divers who appreciate the story as much as the scenery.