Southern Islands, Singapore
    Labrador Nature Reserve

    RMS Empress of Asia

    Best months: Jan–Mar

    Protected Area

    Labrador Nature Reserve

    Why dive here

    With 263+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue-spotted stingrays, dugongs, giant moray eels, seahorses and sea turtles - RMS Empress of Asia offers some of Southern Islands's richest 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
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    The RMS Empress of Asia is our pick for a unique wreck dive in Singapore, offering a slice of history beneath the waves. She was a grand ocean liner, pressed into service as an armed merchant cruiser during WWII, and now she rests in the Southern Islands. We often find ourselves drifting over her scattered remains, picturing her former glory. The wreck itself is well-broken, but you can still make out the sheer scale of the ship. We love poking around the larger hull sections, imagining the life she once held. Look closely, and you’ll spot a surprising amount of soft coral growth, especially the delicate starry cup corals clinging to the metal. We’ve seen longtail garfish darting through the clearer patches and plenty of red-striped cardinalfish schooling inside what’s left of her structure. It’s a site that really comes alive with a good torch, revealing the tucked-away Grammistes blennies and the shy Pacific blue swimming crabs. It's a dive that rewards slow exploration and a keen eye, perfect for those who appreciate both history and the quiet colonisation of the sea.

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for RMS Empress of Asia

    RMS Empress of Asia Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for RMS Empress of Asia, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (1.18, 103.96) (8km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    30°C

    86°F · Range: 29.5–31.1°C

    Air Temperature

    27°C

    81°F

    Wind Speed

    4.07 m/s

    7.9 knots

    Atmospheric Pressure

    1009.8 hPa

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data

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