Wreck Diving in Subic Bay, Philippines

There are a large number of WWII wrecks around Subic Bay. Subic Bay Wreck Diving is quite unique as we have a L2D “Tabby” (Japanese DC-3) airplane, Vietnam era F4 Phantom, a Douglas A-1 Skyraider and even a Spanish American Warship, the “San Quentin“.

Subic Bay offers a perfect habitat for these wrecks as they are tucked in away from most of the harsh weather that can hit the Philippines and which has preserved these historical monuments for decades.

What really makes Subic Bay Philippines a special place for wreck diving is that most of the wrecks fall within the recreational diving limits, which means visiting these fascinating worlds doesn’t require any special technical training.

The amazing history and preservation of these wrecks makes a visit to our community a great place to begin your Subic wreck diving adventure or to continue on what you already know and love.

Shipwreck Dive Sites in Subic Bay

USS New York (ACR-2)

USS New York (ACR-2)

Depth: 16-30 m / 55-100 ft

She is probably the one everyone wants to see the most when arriving here in Subic Bay. She’s a WWI ship built in the 1890’s used in WWII and one of the coolest wrecks we have here in the Subic Bay. Her 8” guns are still intact and she sits between 17-27 meters. You won’t want to miss this site when you dive with us.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

El Capitan (USS Majaba)

El Capitan (USS Majaba)

Depth: 4-22 m / 13-73 ft

She was built in 1919 and the US Navy acquired her in the 1940’s, this ship is believe to have provided supply runs for the US Military. She is a perfect ship for Wreck Diving training with beginners to advanced with her large openings, shallow depths and is intact and on her port side.

Diver Level: Open Water

“Nikko Maro” – Banshu Maru No. 52

“Nikko Maro” – Banshu Maru No. 52

Depth: 56 m / 180 ft

Just off Grande Island, another Japanese wreck was found and identified as the Japanese IJN Auxiliary Minesweeper Banshu Maru No 52, a converted Japanese whaling or fishing vessel. After divers have found beer bottles on the wreck she was also given the Nickname “Sakura Maru”.

Diver Level: Technical Divers

San Quentin Subic Wreck

San Quentin Subic Wreck

Depth: 12-16 m / 39-52.5 ft

A Spanish American Warship, withs a famous distinction here in Subic Bay. She was scuttled by the Spanish on purpose to block the channel between Grande Island and Chiquita Islands. Probably the oldest shipwreck in the Philippines, her large boilers are teeming with coral growth and the shallow depth makes it an awesome dive for beginners to advanced. It is now home to a diverse range of aquatic life like eels, sweetlips, cuttlefish, stingrays, large trevally, nude branches and much more!!

Diver Level: Open Water

Landing Craft Utility (LCU)

Landing Craft Utility (LCU)

Depth: 9-22 m / 30-73 ft

The Landing Craft Utility wreck here in Subic Bay Philippines was believed to have sunk in a storm sometime after the end of World War II. This great Subic Bay wreck can be found inside Triboa Bay and is listing on her starboard side. This allows for scuba divers of all certification levels and experience to enjoy this dive when they visit Subic Bay. The LCU wreck plays host to quite a number of marine species including batfish, angelfish, lion fish, soft corals, sponges and a resident turtle.

Diver Level: Open Water

Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM)

Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM)

Depth: 41 m / 135 ft

Landing Craft Mechanical is a landing craft utility designed for carrying vehicles. They came to prominence during the World War II when they were used to land troops or tanks during Allied amphibious assaults in Europe. This wreck was discovered in the inner Subic Bay area. At the the moment, the exact location is being withheld. This wreck is a recent find by Sea Scan Survey and is thought to be previously unknown to local divers.

Diver Level: Deep Diver certified, Technical Divers

Upside Down LCU

Upside Down LCU

Depth: 36 m / 120 ft

A great dive for both wreck & reef divers with some of the best marine diversity in Subic Bay. It is laying upside down in 36 meters/ 120 feet on the sand & is completely split in 2 pieces. Typically great visibility with resident Blue Spotted Stingrays, Ribbon Eels and loads of shrimp & Nudibranches. We generally start here before swimming east whilst ascending to a shallower depth between 12-18 meters & end our dive on the Canyons reef site.

Diver Level: Deep Diver, Technical Divers

Kyo Maru Boat Wreck

Kyo Maru Boat Wreck

Depth: 69 m / 226 ft

Resting at 69m this dive site is now a favoured training dive for trimix courses and a preserved piece of history. With it’s resting place too deep for local salvage operations, the ship has an abundance of radio equipment, copper wire and all its ancillaries in place such as windless and the anchor. The Kyo is broken in 2 pieces but otherwise fairly intact. The wreck is also home to many big grouper, lapu lapu and jackfish.

Diver Level: Technical Divers

USS Lanikai

USS Lanikai

Depth: 34-36 m / 112-120 ft

At the end of WW2 she was sailed to Manila to be returned to her previous owner. When the USS Lanikai arrived, the owner refused to accept her due to the poor condition she was in. The Lanakai was sent to Subic Bay Philippines for repairs and eventually sunk in a typhoon. The Vessel was discovered in 2003. The Lanakai wreck in Subic is now spread around on the sea floor and serves as a treat for those interested in historical wreck sites.

Diver Level: Deep Diver Certification

Seian Maru

Seian Maru

Depth: 16-27 m / 53-89 ft

The ship ran a ground outside Subic Bay on November 17th 1944 and met her eventual fate at the hands of US aircraft artillery on the 19th of November 1944. She now sits 150 metres from the USS New York between the Alava Pier and the Subic Bay International Airport. The wreck lies in 16-27 metres of water and is home to large Jack Fish, Barracouta and loads of other marine life.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

Japanese Patrol Boat Wreck

Japanese Patrol Boat Wreck

Depth: 18-24 m / 60-80 ft

Lying in 18-24 metres of water not too far from the Landing Craft Utility wreck is the upright remains of a Japanese vessel bombed by the invading US forces in 1944. It has a large blast wound on the starboard side, likely the cause of her demise. She is an absolute treat to scuba dive as the vessels anchor located on the lower port side, a large winch at her bow along with 4 of her six engine cylinders are all still visible.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

SS Oryoku Maru ‘The Hellship’

SS Oryoku Maru ‘The Hellship’

Depth: 17-25 m / 56-82 ft

The Oryoku Maru or so called “Hell Ship” due to the tortuous conditions the prisoners were forced to endure on board. There were many Hell Ships in the Japanese floatilla, it was a name given to any Japanese vessel carrying Prisoners Of War. The ship was actually believed to be a new cabin type vessel used for luxury trips on the orient. This is another dive site you won’t want to miss when in Subic Bay.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

Landing Ship Tank (LST)

Landing Ship Tank (LST)

Depth: 26-32 m / 85-105 ft

This is another favorite of scuba divers here in Subic Bay, as she is beautiful ship laying at an average of 30 meters with her doors going just below 34 meters. The LST was used to move big volumes of cargo and personnel. NITROX will server you well on this ship wreck. The Landing Ship Tank wreck in Subic Bay is on the eastern side of the bay and is home to a large number of fish, including one very large resident Grouper. Due to it’s depth of 28-35 meters, it is only suitable for scuba divers holding Advanced Open Water Diver certificates.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

Arizona House Wreck

Arizona House Wreck

Depth: 18-21 m / 59-69 ft

Arizona Dive Shop is the only Dive Shop in the Subic Bay with it’s own House Wreck! The Arizona House Wreck is only approx 200 m (650 ft) out from the beach in front of our Dive Shop. The Arizona house wreck is not only a good fun and night dive site. It is also a perfect training area for several course dives like our very popular wreck course. The Arizona Dive Shop was allowed to lift the sunken trawler and sink it again close to the beach where the dive shop is located. You will love this dive site and is a great one to get started on when diving wrecks in Subic Bay.

Diver Level: Open Water Diver

Aircraft Wreck Dive Sites in Subic Bay

Douglas Skyraider Wreck

Douglas Skyraider Wreck

Depth: 36 m / 118 ft

The aircraft here in Subic Bay is a 4 seater with 2 forward facing front seats and 1 forward and 1 backward facing rear seats. It is sitting upright on a flat silt bottom at a depth of 36 metres. The aircraft is fitted with 2 x 20mm cannons on each wing and all electronics, gauges and controls are clearly visible. The aircraft is home to Sweet Lips, Banded Coral Shrimp, Hinge Beak Shrimp and Juvenile Jack Fish.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water & Deep Diver Certified, Technical Divers

L2D “Tabby” (Japanese DC-3/C-47)

L2D “Tabby” (Japanese DC-3/C-47)

Depth: 42-44 m / 138-145 ft

The L2D “Tabby” Airplane Wreck in Subic Bay, Philippines was discovered in late 2013 and is lying inverted on its back at a maximum depth of 45 meters. It is hard damaged on the cockpit but divers can still identify the pilot seats and control sticks. The fuselage is still intact with the side door removed. The engines and the propellers are tore away from the airplane when it crashed, they can be located few meters north of the wreck.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water & Deep Diver Certified, Technical Divers

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

Depth: 40 m / 131 ft

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor aircraft/fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. During the Vietnam War, the F-4 was used extensively; it served as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, and became important in the ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance roles late in the war.

Diver Level: Deep Diver Certified, Technical Divers

Savage A2 (AJ-2) Bomber

Savage A2 (AJ-2) Bomber

Depth: 70 m / 230 ft

In 1957 Lt. Commander Jess R. Rowland from the Heavy Attack Squadron 6 based at Cubi Point, ditched the AJ-2 Savage just outside the bay off Silanguin. The Lt. Commander was on a routine bombing practice when it was reported that propeller over speed resulted in engine failure, all crew members survived. This wreck is in 72m of water very intact except some damage to the rear fuselage and 1 propellor missing. The propellor likely broke off as a result of the engine over speed. A blue water dive and a must for trimix divers to tick off their bucket list.

Diver Level: Technical Trimix Divers

Other Interesting Wreck Dive Sites in Subic Bay

Bailey Bridges

Bailey Bridges

Depth: 26-32 m / 85-105 ft

Sitting at a depth between 26m – 32m the site consists of two Bailey Bridges along with the forward half of a Landing Craft Mechanised and a single barge, similar to others in the bay. This is a great dive for engineering enthusiasts and divers qualified as Advanced Open Water and above. Located against a sloping reef wall, the site is a unique dive and one to tick off the bucket list. Great for afternoon boat trips due to it’s location within the bay, and an Instructor’s favourite to highlight the benefit of Enriched Air Training.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

Beer Barrels

Beer Barrels

Depth: 25-30 m / 82-98 ft

“Beer Barrels” as it is affectionately known is a large steel structure between 25 and 30 metres deep. This unusual site is home to great visibility and some of the best marine life in the area. It is approximately 50m long, 6m High 6m and narrows from 6m to 3m wide and has a radial bend in it that may match the profile of a ship or submarine. It has ten 5m diameter storage tanks. Thus far we have not concluded and cannot find evidence as to what purpose it was used. One thing is certain it is not for storing beer.

Diver Level: Advanced Open Water

M3 Half-Tracks

M3 Half-Tracks

Depth: 37 m / 121 ft

Subic Bay’s M3 Half-Tracks, yes that’s right there’s two of them here you can see when diving, leaves you with more questions than answers. Sitting upright in 37m of water, 9 meters apart with 11897AS 75mm Howitzer guns still in firing position, facing roughly opposite directions just off Cubi Point and very near the Douglas SkyRaider wreck site. This has become quite a spectacle for divers who visit us here in Subic Bay. This is a must see and a favourite on completion or during the Deep Specialty.

Diver Level: Deep Diver, Technical Divers

Barges

Barges

Depth: 4-34 m / 13-11.5 ft

In front of Grande Island, close to the beach, “Barges” was a swimming harbor during the Vietnam war that has been sunken after its withdrawal from service. It was built from many floating steel docks (barges) that have been connected to each other and are now scattered all over the sea ground over a large area. Now it is a habitat for loads of corals and sea life and probably one of the best dive sites for scuba diving in Subic Bay. It is suitable not only for beginners and discovery divers but also for more experienced scuba divers that want to go for a deep dive.

Diver Level: Discover Scuba Divers, Open Water, Advanced Open Water

Cage and Barrel

Cage and Barrel

Depth: 37 m / 121 ft

This is a fascinating deep dive site. With a maximum depth of 37m, there are 3 structures nicely laid out across a sloping sandy bottom. There is an abundance of large pure white fan corals and is amongst the most interesting and unique dives in the bay. The site is home to Lapu Lapu, many varieties of shrimp, an occasional turtle and nudibranch. We often leave the dive site when our NDL gets low and swim a short distance to Canyons reef to extend our dive on a lovely shallow patch of reef. This is a great dive if you want to get 2 locations in on your dive.

Diver Level: Deep Diver Certified

Map of All Dive Sites in Subic Bay

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