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Love adventure? Consider going on a wreck dive liveaboard trip where you can combine history and sea life. We’ve combed through the best wreck dive destinations to find the best liveaboard trips for you.
But first, what is a wreck dive?
Man-made objects, whether accidentally or intentionally sank, can become an artificial reef. Over time, the structures will be overgrown with marine organisms like corals, sea fans, algae, sponges and barnacles. In turn, the encrusting of marine life will attract nearby fish who take take refuge on the artificial structures.
While there are several man-made objects deployed underwater, the most common are shipwrecks. Shipwrecks are an underwater attraction that fascinate divers from all parts of the globe–largely thanks to their intriguing past. Many of the world-renowned wrecks are located far offshore. They may be solitary or grouped together. With this, we highly suggest you book with a liveaboard trip that offers a relaxing and comfortable experience while taking you to several popular wreck diving sites.
The Best Liveaboard Trips for Wreck Diving: At a Glance
| Liveaboard | # of Rooms | Nitrox | Wifi | Length | Cost | PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorfinn | 10 | Yes | Yes | 58m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Dolphin | 9 | Yes | No | 27m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Phoenix | 4 | No | No | 15m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Bilikiki | 10 | Yes | No | 38m | $$$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Oceania | 8 | Yes | No | 27m | $$$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Solitude Adventurer | 8 | Yes | Yes | 36m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Lucy | 12 | Yes | Yes | 37m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Blue Adventurer | 12 | Yes | Yes | 32m | $ | Check | Check | Check |
| Truk Master | 8 | Yes | Yes | 37m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
| Palau Aggressor II | 9 | Yes | No | 32m | $$ | Check | Check | Check |
The Best Liveaboard Trips for Wreck Diving: Reviewed
1. THORFINN
Year of Commission: 1954 (renovated 2008)
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Micronesia
Wrecks to visit: Fujikawa Maru, San Francisco Maru, Heian Maru, Shinkoku Maru, Nippo Maru
The Thorfinn is a 58 meter (190 feet) long liveaboard vessel that offers wreck diving adventures in Micronesia. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests where your room choices includes the Lower Deck Cabins, the Main Deck Double Cabins and the Luxury Suite named Thor’s Lair. It has onboard amenities like the main saloon that is fitted with a 50-inch LED TV, a bar, a spa deck and a dining area that serves full-board meals prepared by their 2 in-house chefs.
The Thorfinn will venture on a 7- or 10-day journey towards Truk Lagoon where it houses over 40 shipwrecks as a result of Operation Hailstone led by the United States during World War II, where over 400 bombs were dropped. Of all the wrecks in Micronesia, Fujikawa Maru is the most popular. This 133-meter (436 feet) long Japanese armed aircraft transport ferry can be explored by both beginner divers as its minimum depth is only at 9 meters (30 feet). Wreck divers where can penetrate the galley and staterooms.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
2. DOLPHIN
Year of Commission: 1986
Capacity: 18 guests
Area of Operation: Philippines
Wrecks to visit: Irako, Akitsushima, Olympia Maru, Okikawa Maru
The Dolphin is a 27 meter (88 feet) long steel-hulled liveaboard vessel that takes divers to an amazing wreck diving adventures in the western part of the Philippines. The liveaboard has 9 cabins that can accommodate up to 18 guests where your room choices includes the Twin Cabin, Bunk Bed Cabin and the VIP Double Cabin. Its onboard amenities includes an air-conditioned saloon, bar, open-air lounge area and a dining hall that serves Asian-Fusion cuisine.
The Dolphin embarks on a 7 or 11-day journey towards Coron Bay in Palawan where it houses a fleet of Japanese warship vessel sank by the US Navy during World War II. The Irako is the most popular and most visited wreck in Coron by technical divers. The internal structures offers a maze of pathway penetration leading to multiple decks where you can see the galley, cabins, engine room and the wheelhouse.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
3. PHOENIX
Year of Commission: 2012 (renovated 2018)
Capacity: 8 guests
Area of Operation: Bahamas
Wrecks to visit: Sugar Wreck, Hesperus Wreck, James Bond Wrecks
The Phoenix is a 15 meter (49 feet) long sailing catamaran that takes wreck divers to the shipwrecks of the Bahamas. It has 4 double cabins that can accommodate up to 8 guests. It has onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, a sun deck and a dining area that serves International and Bahamian cuisine.
The Phoenix embarks on a 7-day journey towards the coral atolls. Aside from caves and blue holes, the Bahamas is popular for shipwrecks that are resting in shallow waters like the Sugar Wreck, a sailboat that ran aground on the reef. The Hesperus Wreck is another popular site where the remains of this 18th century schooner lies in the sandy reef of Grand Bahama and a popular refuge for loggerhead sea turtles.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
4. BILIKIKI
Year of Commission: 1989
Capacity: 20 guests
Area of Operation: Solomon Islands
Wrecks to visit: USS Aaron Ward, Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, Mavis seaplanes
The Bilikiki is a 38 meter (125 feet) long steel-hulled liveaboard vessel that offers wreck diving adventures in Solomon Islands. It has 10 cabins that can accommodate up to 20 guests where your room choices includes the Deluxe Double Bed Cabin and the Deluxe Single Bed Cabin. It has onboard amenities like an indoor saloon, a sun deck, and dining area that serves freshly dishes served buffet style.
The Bilikiki will take drivers on an 8 to 11-day journey towards Iron Bottom Sound where it houses over 200 wrecks that can be dated back from the Second World War. For beginner divers, we highly suggest the Japanese transport ships Kinugawa Maru and the Hirokawa Maru. For technical divers, we recommend the 104 meter (341 feet) long destroyer USS Aaron Ward.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
5. OCEANIA
Year of Commission: 2001 (renovated 2018)
Capacity: 16 guests
Area of Operation: Papua New Guinea
Wrecks to visit: B-17F Black Jack, Pacific Gas Wreck, Kimbe Bay Zero Wreck, Sanko, Maru
The Oceania is a 27 meter (89 feet) long luxury catamaran that takes divers to an amazing wreck diving adventures in Papua New Guinea. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices includes the Twin Share Cabins and the Queen Cabins. Its onboard amenities includes the air-conditioned saloon, a sun deck and a dining area that serves Western and Asian cuisine.
The Oceania takes divers on a 10 to 12-day journey towards Papua New Guinea to dive among several shipwrecks. Papau New Guinea has a popular site where you can explore two shipwrecks in just one dive. The wrecks are Sanko Maru and a Type C midget submarine where both wrecks are partially encrusted with corals, sea fans and sponges. Another underwater attraction is the Der Yang wreck. This former Taiwanese fishing boat is now resting at 30 meters (98 feet) deep where its structures have become the refuge of schooling fish like barracudas.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
6. SOLITUDE ADVENTURER
Year of Commission: 2007 (renovated 2018)
Capacity: 18 guests
Area of Operation: Indonesia
Wrecks to visit: Shinwa Maru, Mansinam Cross Wreck, Pasir Putih Wreck, P40, Tomahawk
The Solitude Adventurer is a 38 meter (118 feet) long luxury catamaran that takes wreck divers to the shipwrecks of Indonesia. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 18 guests where your room choices includes the Staterooms, Deluxe Cabins and the Family Room. Its onboard amenities includes a saloon fitted with audio/video entertainment system, a library, bar, sundeck and dining room that serves freshly prepared local and international dishes.
The Solitude Adventurer takes divers on an 8 to 10-day journey towards Cenderawasih Bay of Indonesia, where you can find over 5 shipwrecks. The wreck diving sites are located mostly around Manokwari where you can explore Shinwa Maru, the largest shipwreck in Indonesia. The external structures of this former 70 meter (230 feet) long Japanese motor cargo vessel is encrusted with large colonies of corals and sponges, and you can still find chopsticks, bottles of sake and beer cans in its internal cargo hold.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
7. LUCY
Year of Commission: 2005 (renovated 2018)
Capacity: 22 guests
Area of Operation: Sudan
Wrecks to visit: SS Jassim, Umbria Wreck, Blue Belt Wreck, Conshelf II
Lucy is a 37 meter (121 feet) long luxury liveaboard vessel that offers wreck diving adventures in Sudan. It has 12 cabins that can accommodate up to 22 guests where your room choices includes the Lower Deck Cabins and the Main Deck Cabins. It has onboard amenities like the main saloon that is equipped with a 65-inch Ultra HD cinematic monitor, a bar, a sundeck and a dining area that serves superb and freshly cooked meals.
Divers on Lucy can go on a an 8-day journey offshore of Sudan. The Umbria wreck is one of the most popular wrecks in Sudan where this former Italian cargo ship was sunk by her Captain on the very day Italy joined World War II. Lying on its port side, the Umbri holds thousands of undetonated bombs that are neatly arranged, Fiat cars, and other weapons of war.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
8. BLUE ADVENTURER
Year of Commission: 2013 (renovated 2016)
Capacity: 22 guests
Area of Operation: Egypt
Wrecks to visit: SS Thistlegorm, Salem Express, Aida II, Numidia
The Blue Adventurer is a 32 meter (105 feet) long liveaboard vessel that takes divers to an amazing wreck diving adventures in Egypt. It has 12 cabins that can accommodate up to 22 guests where your room choices includes the Twin Bed Cabins, Double Cabins and the Single Cabins. It has onboard amenities like the main saloon that is fitted with an Apple TV, 2 sun decks and a dining area that serves freshly prepared foods.
The itinerary of Blue Adventurer takes divers on an 8-day journey towards the Red Sea. Your primary wreck diving site is the SS Thistlegorm. The cargo of this former British transport ship is very popular that technical divers always want to penetrate its structure to see a war tank, trucks, motorcycles and vintage weapons. Popular for training dives are the nearby wrecks of Aida II and Numidia. Situated near Brothers reef, these two wrecks are resting 100 meters (330 feet) apart and can be explored with just a single dive.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
9. TRUK MASTER
Year of Commission: 1974 (renovated 2016)
Capacity: 16 guests
Area of Operation: Marshall Islands
Wrecks to visit: USS Saratoga, USS Arkansas, Nagato Battleship
The Truk Master is a 37 meter (121 feet) long luxury liveaboard vessel that takes wreck divers to the shipwrecks of Marshall Islands. It has 8 cabins that can accommodate up to 16 guests where your room choices includes the Classic Twin Share Cabins, the Premium Twin Share Cabins and the Superior Double Cabins. It has onboard amenities like the main saloon that is fitted with a plasma screen, a bar, a shaded sun deck and a large indoor dining area that serves International and Asian cuisine.
The Truk Master ventures on an 8 to 14-day journey towards Bikini Atoll where it is considered the mecca for wreck diving courtesy from a fleet of naval vessels that were intentionally sank during a nuclear test. Amongst the long list of shipwrecks in Marshall islands, the USS Saratoga is the most popular where this former aircraft carrier is also the most explored. You have to take note that you need to perform multiple dives in several days to fully explore its the massive structures.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
10. PALAU AGGRESSOR II
Year of Commission: 1994 (renovated 2014)
Capacity: 18 guests
Area of Operation: Palau
Wrecks to visit: Jake Seaplane, Iro Maru, Helmet wreck, Chuyo Maru
The Palau Aggressor II is a 32 meter (105 feet) long liveaboard vessel that offers wreck diving adventures in Palau. It has 9 cabins that can accommodate up to 18 guests where your room choices includes the Double Staterooms and the Deluxe Staterooms. It has onboard amenities like the air-conditioned saloon, a sun deck and a dining area that serves Western food served in buffet style.
On the Palau Aggressor II, divers can join an 8-day journey around Palau where it houses over 60 shipwrecks, all of which are Japanese in origin. The most popular of all the wrecks in Palau is the Iro Maru. This 143 meter (469 feet) long Japanese Oil tanker now lies at 25 meters (82 feet) deep and rests in an upright position.
Check prices and trip dates: PADI Travel | Liveaboard | DiveBooker
Check out more liveaboard trips around the world
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