2015 15 Bucket List Dive Sites Blacksuit Guides ©
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Disclaimer This guide has been written to provide information to help you learn about various dive sites. Every effort has been made to make this guide as complete and accurate as possible. However, there may be mistakes in typography or content. Also, this guide contains information on Dive Sites only up to the publishing date. Therefore, this guide should be used as a guide – not as the ultimate source of Dive Site information. The purpose of this guide is to educate. The author and publisher does not warrant that the information contained in this guide is fully complete and shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions. The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this guide.
Table of Contents 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Dive Site No. 1: The S.S Yongala, Australia Dive Site No. 2: Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island, Malaysia Dive Site No. 3: Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia Dive Site No. 4: Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea Dive Site No. 5: The Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea Dive Site No. 6: Great Blue Hole, Belize Dive Site No. 7: Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii Dive Site No. 8: Navy Pier, Exmouth, Western Australia Dive Site No. 9: Liberty, Bali, Indonesia Dive Site No. 10: S.S President Coolidge, Vanuatu Dive Site No. 11: Gordon Rocks, Galapagos Islands, Dive Site No. 12: Richelieu Rock, near the Surin Islands, Thailand Dive Site No. 13: Maaya Thila, Maldives Dive Site No. 14: Sistema Dos Ojos, Playa del Carmen, Mexico Dive Site No. 15: North Horn, Osprey Reef, Australia Attributions
19. Attributions Copyright © 2015 – Blacksuit Divers. All rights are reserved.
No part of this guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Published 28/01/2015
Dive Site No. 1 The S.S Yongala Top on the list of popular dive sites around the globe is the SS Yongala in Australia. It is a well-known wreck that visitors will find at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This landmark is on the world heritage list and can be reached from Alva Beach in Queensland. It is a half hour trip or 12 nautical miles. The backstory is what attracts sightseers. Apparently in 1911, a cyclone hit causing the vessel to sink and disappear with 122 people on board. Ghastly yes, but the makings of a legend. After 50 years of submersion, coral had encrusted the SS Yongala and it was ready to be discovered. It’s a great underwater destination and a complete diving adventure due to a plethora of marine life. The ship may no longer sail the seas, but it does harbor giant groupers, rays, and assorted schools of fish. This artificial reef in effect is the focal point for a variety of marine life, the kind divers love to view and photograph. There are even turtles feeding in these depths and sea snakes gliding lithely about. Anyone with a sense of adventure will want to explore the SS Yongala, and do it many times! The tragic history recedes into the background as the diver experiences the wealth within.
The S.S Yongala, Australia Depth: 25 – 30 Metres Visibility: 10 – 15 Metres Coordinates: 19°18'33"S 147°37'11"E
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Location: Three hours by boat from Townsville or 30 minutes from Ayr, Queensland.
Dive Site No. 2 Barracuda Point If you want chevron or blacktail barracuda, then you will want to do to Barracuda Point on Sipadan Island in Malaysia. Lucky divers will relish a swirling eddy of them on the north coast of the island. This is a destination worthy of its status as the second top site in the world. The current brings with it a great deal of fish, from schooling bannerfish to redtooth trigger fish. They swarm in great quantity. Go down 10 meters and find the prize. Grey reef sharks lurk about in the hunt for a meal. Great barracuda and dogtooth tuna are easy to find. You just need to have an eagle eye. If so, you will encounter bumphead parrotfish and turtles by cruising along the wall. Go down and look in nooks and crannies for a living treasure trove. As the wall levels off into a sloping plateau, your vision will take in the barracudas at last. Also in view will be Napoleon wrasse and yellow-margin triggerfish. It is easy to get swept down as a result of the currents and caution is in order. You don’t want to find yourself too far away from the island. All in all, this site provides a wonder of color and movement. If the barracudas come around, so much the better. They could be in the thousands—just breath-taking, a memory to record for ever. Sipadan Island will be on your mind for some time to come.
Barracuda Point, Sipadan Island, Malaysia Depth: 5 – 40 Metres Visibility: 30 Metres Coordinates: 4.1209° ; 118.629°
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Location: North East of Sipadan Island only five minutes by boat from the beach.
Dive Site No. 3 Blue Corner Wall Divers talk about their favourite spots and Palau is definitely one of them. The Blue Corner Wall in particular is touted as a great toptier destination for ample schools of fish. It is simply overwhelming sometimes when you see volumes of fish and even sharks in great number. You will also encounter snappers, jacks, chevron barracuda, and red-tooth triggerfish. It is a true treasure trove for the eye and mind. Venture here for sure if you enjoy tuna, wahoo, groupers, eagle rays, and green and hawksbill turtles. Wait, there’s more. Add Napoleon wrasse and hammerhead sharks, manta rays, sailfish, whale sharks, and, yes, whales themselves. The list goes on and on, and it is all there, waiting for enterprising divers. The current gets the credit for these species, but it also requires some expertise. Divers cruise along a coral-festooned wall and gorgonian fans to a ridge area. Get out your reef hooks and sit back and relax. Soon will appear sharks, jacks, and snappers galore. When you are ready to depart, the current will carry you to a plateau where you will find some the smaller red-toothed triggerfish, Moorish idols and butterflyfish. The depth here is about 10 meters, ideal if you don’t want to use up a lot of air.
Blue Corner Wall, Palau, Micronesia Depth: 8 – 30 Metres Visibility: Up to 40 Metres Coordinates: 7°14′N 134°18′E
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Location: One hour from Koror by boat.
Dive Site No. 4
S.S. Thistlegorm, Egyptian Red Sea
S.S. Thistlegorm Wrecks are diver’s havens. This one is a popular spot requiring more than one dive to take it all in. the Thistlegorm is 114 meters long and full of opportunities for penetration and no-penetration routes. The vessel has two sections with much debris in between. Start with the aft and you will find an anti-aircraft machine gun at 21 meters of depth. (This area is at a 45° angle to the port.) At the stern are other items of interest like a propeller and another gun. They are in good shape for exploring. Just go to the starboard side at the vessel’s deepest part of 30 meters. If you propel forward, you will find hold no. 4 showing the effects of an aerial bomb hit with loads of debris. What’s more, there are remains of two Bren Carrier MKII tanks and other munitions like projectiles. Military buff divers will have found their dreamscape. Continuing on, the main wreck comes into view and hold no. 3 in which coal was stored. You can go further into the wreck or stay on the deck periphery. The funnel and curved blast roof are above in addition to an area torn up from an explosion. At midships is the bridge superstructure. Swim through to the forward holds from here and you will reach the forward hold (no. 2) that is split into upper and lower levels. Amazingly, you will come across Ford and Bedford Trucks, Morris Jeeps and Motorcycles. Go to the lower level. The upper level inventory includes Bedford Trucks carrying Motorcycles, a Tilling Stevens Truck, Norton Motorcycles and a few sidecars, aircraft spares, rubber boots, and Enfield MK III rifles. Unless your head is spinning, we can also cite two empty trailers, cables and electrical material. Progressing to the lower level, a diver will enjoy trucks, aircraft engine covers, crates of medicine and additional rifles. You can access the bow from here but you also may want to ascend to the forward deck. Your choice. On the deck are two coal tenders that service hold no. 3. Go portside for a look at the broken main mast that is strewn across it. The loading derricks that collapsed are adjacent as are tank wagons that look like crushed cans. When you come to the bow, stay alert for doorways into the forepeak of the anchor and also the workshop. Large winches beckon. If your vessel knowledge is scant, these are for the anchor chain and are inlets for the air scoops. .
Depth: Up to 30 Metres Visibility: Up to 30 Metres Coordinates: 27° 48' 47.2104" N, 33° 55' 14.916" E
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Location: Around three hours from Sharm el Sheikh, on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
Dive Site No. 5 Shark & Yolanda Reef Divers often recommend the Shark and Yolanda Reef in the Egyptian Red Sea where they enjoy exploring Anemone City. It is one of the great spots in the world. You get there by boat, no doubt full of anticipation for the teeming anemones and clownfish to be encountered. When you are sated, you move on to two pinnacles rises vertically, Shark and Yolanda. They spike up from a depth of 800 meters so there is a lot to see. The Cyprian freighter is the name given to the second erg since this vessel hit the reef in the year 1980. You will find the cargo lies on the western side. A drift dive is the norm from Shark’s reef to the Yolanda wreck where you will be rewarded with a sea floor full of hammerheads, reef sharks, barracudas, and large tuna.
Shark and Yolanda Reef, Egyptian Red Sea Depth: Up to 50 Metres Visibility: 10-30 Metres Coordinates: 27° 43.51' N 34° 15.508' E
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Glide past the litter of toilet bowls and sinks to smaller species such as jackfish, batfish and a variety of stingrays. The Coral is a wonderful added attraction. Fig. 1.9
Location: 30 minutes by boat, just off of the Ras Mohamed coast.
Dive Site No. 6
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Great Blue Hole Beautiful Belize is home to the Great Blue Hole. It is an underwater sinkhole near the middle of Lighthouse Reef, just off the coast, or 65 miles from Placencia. It is rather large allowing for diving opportunities. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef atoll about 65 miles from Placencia. You have to go back to the Ice Age for its origin and in doing so, you will learn a bit about the limestone caves back then. Remember that sea levels were lower which accounts for the Great Blue Hole’s development. When the sea level changed and the caves became engorged with water, the roofs collapsed. It wasn’t until Jacques Cousteau make the area known that scuba divers came in droves. To say it is popular is an understatement. The water is gorgeous and crystal clear. There are several varieties of fish including giant grouper, nurse sharks as well as reef sharks like the Caribbean Reef or the Blacktip. If this isn’t enough, you will find bull shark or hammerheads occasionally. Allow a full day to explore the area adequately. Your adventure should include nearby reefs.
Depth: 124 Metres Visibility: 15-30 Metres Coordinates: 17.3153° N, 87.5344° W
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Location: Two hours away from Caye Caulker Island or San Pedro by boat.
Dive Site No. 7 Manta Ray Night Dive
Hawaii has been called paradise for good reason. The big island is part of the package. Divers can enjoy the mysterious manta ray with its 20foot wingspan off Kailua Kona. It is one of the great fish of the ocean depths not to be missed. You don’t have to swim in fear as they are known to be friendly and are without stingers. Their meal of preference is microscopic plankton, not humans, which they ingest with their gaping maws. Spotlights at night will reveal this clearly as light attracts them.
Manta Ray Night Dive, Kailua Kona, Hawaii Depth: Up to 6 Metres Visibility: Up to 10 Metres Coordinates: 19.6500° N, 155.9942° W
A night boat tour comes highly recommended. They depart at sunset from the Honokohau Harbor. It is amazing to see the giant lights illuminate the ocean floor in places like Garden Eel Cove in front of the Sheraton. Snorkelers and divers can then readily track the mantas who come in search of food, and it is a sight to behold. The giant creatures glide and somersault to amazed onlookers. They aren’t afraid to approach the intruders but never come too close!
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Location: Minutes off of the Kona coast
Dive Site No. 8 Navy Pier, Exmouth
If you haven’t been to Exmouth Navy Pier, put it on your must do list. It is world famous as a shore destination. Over 200 species of fish abound. Divers recount vast schools of trevally, barracuda and emperor, as well graceful lionfish—ripe for photo taking. Colorful angelfish, Moorish idols, and gargantuan Queensland grouper are also plentiful. Want more? You can gape at a variety of nudibranchs, flatworms, cheeky goby fish, and delicate anemones. Don’t be surprised to spot families of clown fish darting among them.
Navy Pier, Exmouth,Western Australia Depth: Up to 20 Metres Visibility: 3-10 Metres Coordinates: 21° 48.994' S 114° 11.447' E
Some say that they feel like they are in a giant glorious aquarium in this locale, but you will need a license to find out as the area is a working defence facility. It is worth the effort to access this shallow 15-meter marine haven. They do limit the number of divers allowed to protect the region for good reason. It makes for a better experience for visitors.
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Location: 300 meters from Exmouth shore.
Dive Site No. 9
Liberty, Bali, Indonesia
Liberty, Bali Depth: 10-25 Metres
The Liberty in Bali is a 120 meter long wreck that lies at a 90-degree angle. Wrecks are the forte of experienced divers and this one, a former American supply ship, doesn’t disappoint. It faces the open sea off the coast of Lombok in Indonesia. Too bad for the sailors that a Japanese torpedo struck the hull during WWII. Good for divers, however, who get to explore to their heart’s content. The US navy couldn’t move the wreckage as planned to Singaraja harbour and it remains on the rocky beach of Tulamben, where it was intentionally left to face the elements. While unanticipated, it was fortuitous that in 1963, the volcano Mount Agung erupted, forcing the ship back into the sea. Divers can access it down to 29 meters and see the coralencrusted hull. It now houses many creatures of the deep including parrotfish, napoleon wrasse and barracuda. It is a virtual swarm of trevally, bream, fusilier, and anthias. They will swarm divers without fear. You shouldn’t be wary either, so enjoy the profusion of batfish, large sweetlips, angelfish, butterfly fish and anemone fish, not to mention the usual resident anemones. Don’t fail to look under ledges and in crevices for the likes of lionfish, scorpionfish, hawkfish, bumphead parrot fish, pufferfish and coral trout that abound. We could go on to gobies, blennies, shrimps and dottyback that live out on the sand flats, plus assorted coral, sponges, and gorgonian. It is pretty obvious that the Liberty is amazingly alive with invertebrate life.
Visibility: 10-20 Metres Coordinates: 8° 16.478' S 115° 35.589' E
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Location: Only 30 meters off shore opposite Tulamben Beach on the northeast coast.
Dive Site No. 10 S.S. President Coolidge This almost intact easy located wreckage is offshore near the waterline. The SS Coolidge provides ample opportunities for exploration in the ship’s upper region (the lower part is for more experienced divers as areas have collapsed due to earthquakes). Follow the line to the bow at Vanuatu and you will be treated to a time capsule worth of cannons and guns, trucks and jeeps (complete with inflated tires), helmets, and more personal equipment. Moving carefully on, you will encounter an entire ship in all its maritime splendour. Believe it or not there is a mosaic tile fountain, several crystal chandeliers, and a porcelain relief illustrating a mythical scene of a woman atop a unicorn (entitled The Lady). As if this weren’t enough, in abundance amid the coral reef are small reef fish and larger species like moray eels, barracuda, grouper, and sea turtles. It’s a visual feast. Deeper diving in the bottom section yields more. You find strategicallyplaced marked buoys and dive accordingly. You won’t run out of things to do on this almost 200 meter-long vessel. No one has seen it all. In fact, new discoveries are still taking place such as the surgery area at the 150-meter marker in which a trove of medications and medical equipment have been found. Navigating through some corridors and heavy silt will bring you to vials of Valium and boxes of first aid supplies—even a preserved appendix in a jar! The engine room beckons deeper down where you can see gauges in their final stage and enormous motors with huge electrical coils and condensers. It’s a sight to behold. Not far is the galley with counters and stoves intact. Cooking equipment and crockery is still there and has not been pillaged as loot. For some, the stern concludes the water adventure complete with massive propeller shafts (alas salvagers long ago pilfered the blades). The starboard one is at 55 meters while the port shaft measures a depth of 65. Who would want to miss the rudder? You can even swim through its hinge.
S.S President Coolidge, Vanuatu Depth: 30 Metres Visibility: 15-25 Metres Coordinates: 15° 31.452' S 167° 14.113' E
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Location: You will find the wreck 50 meters off the shore of Vanuatu.
Dive Site No. 11 Gordon Rocks
Gordon Rocks, Galapagos Islands, Depth: 6-40 Metres
If you think you have seen everything, you would be wrong if you haven’t been to Gordon Rocks on the Galapagos Islands. The hammerheads are its claim to fame. You can get comfortably close and become so enrapt as to miss the ample variety of rays from eagles and stingrays to marbled and the ever-present mantas. There are also white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos sharks, jacks, turtles, heiroglyphic hawkfish, flag cabrillas, blennies, and wrasse. It is like a catalogue of sea life that also includes cardinalfish, king angelfish, sea lions, yellowtail sturgeon, and barracudas. This is a diving experience worth pursuing. You will find it at the top of a submerged cone at one end of Santa Cruz Island—the northeastern. People call it the washing machine and rightly so because of the volcano-like feature of the northern and southern rocks known as a caldera. Submerged pinnacles have a channel between them resulting in strong whirling currents. Caution is in order here. We say advanced divers only.
Visibility: 5-18 Metres Coordinates: -0.57 -90.2
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Location: A one-hour boat ride from Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.
Dive Site No. 12 Richelieu Rock
Richelieu Rock, Surin Islands, Thailand Depth: 10-25 Metres
Asia has some of the best dives in the world of which Richelieu Rock is certainly one. It is north of the Similan Islands, about 50 nautical miles to be specific. If you are looking for the whale shark, this is the place. At low tide the rock breaks the water surface and becomes a visible “whale shark magnet.” It is not to be missed. While maybe not as prolific as the expression implies, there are still many to encounter along with eagle and manta rays. It is a large area and it is easy to undertake several dives and see something unique—schools of trevallies and barracudas for example. The currents also carry small creatures such as frogfish, ghost pipefish and seahorses. Look carefully in cracks and crevices for special treats. The marine life is rich making Thailand a one-stop diver destination.
Visibility: Up to 30 Metres Coordinates: 9° 21.822' N 97° 59.018' E
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Location: Off Khuraburi Island, 14 kilometers east of the Mu Koh Surin marine park.
Dive Site No. 13
Maaya Thila, Maldives
Maaya Thila Depth: 15-30 Metres
What shark doesn’t want to be the center of attention! At Maaya Thila, the white tips get most of it, while the grey reefs receive a lesser share. They circle indefinitely in groups. On a given dive, you can experience their movement. The area is only 80 meters in diameter and if the current permits, a diver will have no trouble navigating it. There is such a wealth of marine life, however, that some dallying is not uncommon before moving on. You begin at 12 meters and can plunge to 30 or more to see the coral outcrops on the northwest and south sides. Caves are chock full of sea life including the white tips (that like strong currents), the dogtoothed tuna, the great barracuda, and assorted others. The list is long, populated with stonefish, anglerfish, blue-faced angelfish, Moorish idols, tall fin batfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish, clown triggerfish, and last but not least, lionfish. How to keep them straight? You can access on the south side a large rock with a swimthrough (about one meter in width) in order to see fusilier and blue stripe snapper on the reef top. A large turtle or two could also appear. Maya Thila at night is pretty special as well weather permitting. You just can’t go wrong in this fish-laden locale. Don’t miss the soft coral and gorgonians on the reef faces—just a few of the additional delights.
Visibility: 6-40 Metres Coordinates: 4.09089° 72.8619°
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Location: 20 minutes by boat from Maayafushi Resort Island or Banyan Tree Madivaru.
Dive Site No. 14 Sistema Dos Ojos Sistema Dos Ojos is on every list for world-famous dive locales due to the expansive cavern and cave systems. “Two eyes” in English describes this natural wonder. There are two pools (that look like glaring eyes) at which to enter the rather long, decorated expanse. What awaits is an intricate and elaborate maze of candle-drip stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and rim pools. This is a place in which you don’t mind getting lost. It is also the location of a 150-meter free dive that is still the world-record. You can take your time as there are 80 kilometers in which to explore the eerie depths of this freshwater paradise. A myriad of narrow passages and multi-coloured blue and green “rooms” take you on a journey that includes the Next Generation Passage, the Wakulla Room, Bat Cave and Jill’s Room. Every nook and cranny has its own distinctive marine life. Plenty of tourists visit this Mexico destination for good reason.
Sistema Dos Ojos, Playa del Carmen, Mexico Depth: 119 Metres Visibility: 91 Metres Coordinates: 20.3247° N, 87.3919° W
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Location: Drive straight to the cave by road. It sits between the towns of Akumal and Tulum.
Dive Site No. 15 North Horn, Osprey Reef Get on board to the North Horn of the Osprey Reef in Australia. It is on the northernmost tip and is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. When the current is evident, you can do a drift dive or opt for a deep one to as low as 40 meters. This time divers encounter the noted “shark feed” that is definitely a crowd pleaser. After an orientation dive, you descend to 30 meters where you will find soft corals, whips, and fans. The hard coral coverage is extensive around Osprey Reef and is matched by the alternative soft ones on the bommie rises. Another plus for the North Horn Wall are the ledges and gorgonian fans as well as the larger pelagics. Don’t be surprised to see eagle and manta rays manoeuvring about and maybe a sailfish or two if you are lucky. It is certainly a photo op for any diver who wants to document the experience. When it gets to the time of the shark feed, you can go wild just like they do.
North Horn, Osprey Reef, Australia Depth: 10-25 Metres Visibility: 10-40 Metres Coordinates: 13°54.190S 146°38.985E
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Location: Liveaboard tours leave from Lizard Island and travel 170 kilometers to the site.
Attributions: Image No.: Fig. 1.0 Fig. 1.1 Fig. 1.2 Fig. 1.3 Fig. 1.4 Fig. 1.5 Fig. 1.6 Fig. 1.7 Fig. 1.8 Fig. 1.9 Fig. 2.0 Fig. 2.1 Fig. 2.2 Fig. 2.3 Fig. 2.4 Fig. 2.5 Fig. 2.6 Fig. 2.7 Fig. 2.8 Fig. 2.9 Fig. 3.0 Fig. 3.1 Fig. 3.2 Fig. 3.3 Fig. 3.4 Fig. 3.5 Fig. 3.6 Fig. 3.7 Fig. 3.8 Fig. 3.9
Attribution: Photo Courtesy of Teddy Fotiou Photo Courtesy of Port Adelaide Enfield Local History Photos Photo Courtesy of Chen Wu Photo Courtesy of Barry Peters Photo Courtesy of Amanderson2 Photo Courtesy of Lux Tonnerre Photo Courtesy of Wilfred Hdez Photo Courtesy of Meincken Photo Courtesy of Nick Long Photo Courtesy of Matt Kieffer Photo Courtesy of Eric Pheterson Photo Courtesy of Jayhem Photo Courtesy of Tchami Photo Courtesy of Dean Croshere Photo Courtesy of Eulinky Photo Courtesy of Esormikin Photo Courtesy of Jeff~ Photo Courtesy of Stokes RX Photo Courtesy of Bradjward Photo Courtesy of Curtis & Renee Photo Courtesy of Paul Krawczuk Photo Courtesy of Lucy Rikards Photo Courtesy of Tim Sheerman-Chase Photo Courtesy of Prilfish Photo Courtesy of Christian Jensen Photo Courtesy of Neville Wootton Photo Courtesy of Anna Barnett Photo Courtesy of Nick Long Photo Courtesy of Matt Kieffer Photo Courtesy of Matt Kieffer
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