SOUN MARU (POSSIBLY) - Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham
The *Soun Maru*, or what we believe to be her remains, sits in just 3 metres of water, a grounded tugboat from 1967. It’s less of a deep exploration and more of a snorkel or very shallow dive, making it ideal for those new to wreck diving or anyone keen on a relaxed float. You won’t be penetrating cabins here, but the visible hull and superstructure are draped in soft corals and sponges, a surprisingly colourful garden in miniature. Look closely and you’ll spot nudibranchs, small crabs, and schools of juvenile fish darting amongst the rusted metal – a decent spot to spend an hour observing the slower pace of the shallows.
- Location
- Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham, Vietnam, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 16.749268, 107.403690
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 3m
Marine Protected Area: Tam Giang-Cau Hai
Best Time to Dive in Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham
The warmest water temperatures in Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham occur in August, averaging 30.7°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 24.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 24.1°C
- February: 24.3°C
- March: 25.7°C
- April: 27.0°C
- May: 28.8°C
- June: 30.3°C
- July: 30.2°C
- August: 30.7°C
- September: 30.3°C
- October: 29.2°C
- November: 27.3°C
- December: 25.4°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham
- 90208 - 51m (wreck)
- BRIGHT STAR - 5m (wreck)
- Cham Island - 8m-33m
- Cu Lao Cham
- CULLONG 115 - 55m (wreck)
- DNa 37068 TS - 32m (wreck)
- DNA 46182 TS - 25m (wreck)
- ENKI MARU - 40m (wreck)
- KYOKUUN MARU (PROBABLY) - 10m (wreck)
- MINH KHAI 126 - 41m (wreck)
- NAM SANH - 1m (wreck)
- OAKLAND - 0m (wreck)
- SAN LUIS MARU (PROBABLY) - 2m (wreck)
- SINAIA - 9m (wreck)
- Snorkeling spot Hon Tai
Nearest Dive Centres to SOUN MARU (POSSIBLY)
- Blue Coral Diving - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Hoi An & Cu Lao Cham
Home to 41 recorded species including 28 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other, 1 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Flagfin Mojarra (Gerres filamentosus) - Reef Fish
- Black Spinecheek Gudgeon (Eleotris melanosoma) - Reef Fish
- Blackfinned triplespine (Triacanthus biaculeatus) - Reef Fish
- Silver Sillago (Sillago sihama) - Reef Fish
- Black-tipped Silver-biddy (Gerres oyena) - Reef Fish
- Sharpbelly (Hemiculter leucisculus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Coral Cerith (Cerithium coralium) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Common delphinula (Angaria delphinus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- marbled spiny eel (Mastacembelus armatus) - Reef Fish
- honeycomb stingray (Himantura uarnak) - Sharks & Rays
- Bengal mudeel (Ophisternon bengalense) - Reef Fish
- Fanray (Platyrhina sinensis) - Sharks & Rays
- China Lobster (Metanephrops sinensis) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Bronze featherback (Notopterus notopterus) - Reef Fish
- Golden Flathead Goby (Glossogobius aureus) - Reef Fish
- Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfish (Scatophagus argus) - Reef Fish
- Indo-pacific tropical sand goby (Favonigobius reichei) - Reef Fish
- Deep Flounder (Pseudorhombus elevatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for SOUN MARU (POSSIBLY)
Based on average water temperature of 27.8°C, currents 8 cm/s.
- 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