OAKLAND

Best months: Feb–Dec

Protected Area

Cu Lao Cham (marine)

Why dive here

With 41+ marine species recorded in the area - including seahorses and sea turtles - OAKLAND offers some of Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 24-31°C, warmest June, August, September.

Marine lifeSeahorses and Sea Turtles · 41+ species recorded

Water24-31°C · warmest June, August, September

CharacterWreck dive

Oakland is a real conversation starter, a massive container vessel that went down in 1988. We’re talking about a wreck so big, it’s actually two distinct dive sites: the bow and stern sections, separated by a fair swim, with the main cargo area somewhere in the middle. Diving the bow, you’re looking at serious steel, barnacle-encrusted plates, and the remains of the superstructure that offer some intriguing swim-throughs if you’re comfortable with overhead environments. It’s a site for advanced divers, no question, given the depth and potential currents. The scale alone is impressive. We love tracing the deck features, imagining the ship in its former life. You’ll see schools of fusiliers and yellowtail snapper darting through the rusted metal, and often a few lionfish lurking in the shadows. Look closely, and you might spot a stonefish blending into the growth. It’s a proper wreck dive, more about the history and the sheer presence of the sunken ship than vibrant corals, though the soft corals here add pops of colour to the industrial grey. Go early, before the thermocline settles in, for the best visibility.