The 10 Best Wreck Diving Havens in the World
These locations boast some of the most exciting wrecks you'll ever experience.
Divers can explore the many sunken vehicles inside the Hoki Maru and other shipwrecks at Truk Lagoon.
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Wreck diving gives you the chance to take your underwater experience to the next level. These 10 locations boast some of the most exciting wrecks in the world:
Truk Lagoon
Micronesia’s Truk Lagoon (above) is peppered with the remains of hundreds of World War II wrecks. Japanese ships, planes and submarines are still filled with relics, from gas masks and dishware to tanks and motorcycles. The famed site attracts millions of scuba divers from all across the globe to take an underwater trip through time.
Bahamas
In the Bahamas, wrecks have transformed into reefs that draw in all kinds of marine life. Sharks, turtles, lobsters, eels and millions of fish flock to the island chain’s sunken ships, and divers are never far behind. No worries if your travel companion isn’t also your dive buddy — there are a host of shallow wrecks, like the Sugar Wreck off Grand Bahama’s West End, that can be explored by snorkelers, too.
Great Lakes
This wooden shipwreck in Lake Michigan has been preserved by the cold freshwater of the Great Lakes.
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This Northern U.S. lake chain is home to about 6,000 known wrecks. The frigid freshwater has preserved these submerged treasures so well that the Great Lakes region is often considered the best wreck-diving spot in the world. Visit the USS Dunderberg in Lake Huron to get your tec-diving fix, or check out Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for a thrilling wreck trek.
Scapa Flow
A strange story accompanies the wrecks of Scapa Flow: Fearing British seizure, during World War I, German Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter gave the command to scuttle the entire High Seas Fleet of the German Imperial Navy. After decades of salvaging, a handful of the original wrecks, including three battleships, still remain on the seafloor of this Orkney Islands, Scotland, site.
Red Sea
When the Thistlegorm sank in the Red Sea it was filled with military equipment like this BSA M20 motorcycle.
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Arguably the most famous wreck in the Red Sea (and one of the most famous in the world, for that matter), the World War II-era SS Thistlegorm entices divers in 105 feet of water off the coast of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. But while it might be the most well-known, the Thistlegorm certainly isn’t the area’s only captivating sunken treasure. The Giannis D cargo ship is another Red Sea gem that’s popular with underwater photographers and wreck penetration divers.
Grand Cayman
Purpose-sunk wrecks create some of the best artificial reefs in the ocean, as seen in the waters of the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman’s Kittiwake, sunk in 2011, is a great intro to wreck diving for beginners. Also off Grand Cayman is the Doc Paulson, which was sunk in 1981. It now has amazing coral growth that attracts creatures big and small — perfect for macro and wide-angle shooters alike.
Palau
The Jake Seaplane rests only 45 feet beneath the waters of Palau.
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Palau has its fair share of sunken ships, including the largest shipwreck in Micronesia, the Amatsu Maru. But one of the area’s most interesting underwater attractions is a different kind of wreck. Jake Seaplane is a Japanese reconnaissance seaplane that crashed into the sea but still has both wings and cockpit connected. At a depth of only 45 feet, it’s suitable for divers of all certification levels.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s rich history can be seen in ruins, caves and temples topside, but don’t think the history lesson will stop when you hit the water. The South Indian island was a key shipping port in the Silk Road, and the remnants of wrecks from that era can still be explored today. One popular site is the Great Basses wreck, where ancient anchors and the ribs of the 18th-century ship can be seen.
Hawaii
Divers can swim by the Corsair Plane Wreck in Honolulu.
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The Hawaiian Islands are home to possibly the most significant shipwreck in U.S. history — the USS Arizona. Although this ship is off-limits for divers, there are plenty of other wrecks to explore in this Pacific paradise. Hit a wreck two-fer off Oahu by diving the YO-257 and its close neighbor, the San Pedro. Or check out the Corsair Plane Wreck in Honolulu.
Florida
Small wrecks can be found strewn all across Florida’s shorelines, but there are a few larger ships that should be on your must-dive list: The USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a missile-tracking ship complete with intact antenna, radar dishes and telescopes that lies in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; the USS Oriskany, the largest artificial reef in the world, sunk off Pensacola; and the USS Spiegel Grove, the 510-foot picturesque pinnacle of Key Largo wreck diving.