YUAN HSIN NO.16 - Southern Islands

The Yuan Hsin No.16 is one of Singapore’s more interesting deep wrecks. We love a vessel with a bit of a story, and this Taiwanese trawler, barely three months old when she went down in 1989 after a collision, definitely fits the bill. Dropping down to 50 metres, you hit the bow first. She’s largely intact, lying on her port side, and the sheer scale of the fishing gear is impressive. Think massive winches, trawl doors, and rolls of netting that have become part of the structure, now heavily encrusted. Our favourite part has to be the wheelhouse. It’s a tight squeeze, but if you’re comfortable with overhead environments, you can poke your head in and get a real sense of the final moments. Look out for the resident batfish and schools of snapper that swirl around the mast. The currents here can be unpredictable, so we’d suggest timing your dive for slack water, particularly if you want to properly explore the stern. It's a dive that rewards good buoyancy and a keen eye for detail, not just for the wreck itself but for the surprising amount of life that has claimed it.

Location
Southern Islands, Singapore, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
1.190096, 103.846500
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
50m

Marine Protected Area: Labrador Nature Reserve

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Southern Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to YUAN HSIN NO.16

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

Recommended Packing List for YUAN HSIN NO.16

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