Diving Guide to the Philippines 2015

(Barry) #1

fair to good. Try to hit it just after
high tide for the best vis.
This is a small freighter. It had a
major role in WWII and, even
though damaged, served throughout
the war and was awarded a Battle
Star for service. It sunk during a
storm after the war.
It is actually the USS Majaba (AG-
43) and was built in 1919. This is a
penetrable wreck sitting on the port
side with the bow at 65 ft. (20m).
Marine life includes soft corals and
sponges, hydroids and clouds of
small tropical fish. Around the
wreck are tropicals like glasseyes,
wrasses, tangs and gobies. Due to
the depth, this is an excellent
novice wreck dive site.


4) San Quintin
Icons:
Location: Near Grande Island
Depth: 40-53 ft. (12-16 m)

Most of the wrecks here were
sunk during World War II, but the
oldest known dive site within the
bay is the resting place for this
steam-powered galleon sunk during
the Spanish-American War in 1898.
The Spanish scuttled the San
Quintin at the mouth of the bay to
hinder American warships from
entering Subic.
The wreck is now little more than
rubble but surrounded by marine
life, much of it larger than is found
within the bay itself. Look for
wrasses, gobies, glasseyes, tangs,
spotted sweetlips, lobsters and
crabs.
Go with a local guide who
understands currents as this is one
spot in the bay that has them, thus
the marine life. But, one can get
swept off the wreck and into open
water. The site is somewhat exposed
so sea conditions can pick up quite
quickly, making waves and
complicating exit and entry a bit.
However, the currents make
visibility better here than in the bay.
Other good wrecks in Subic
include the Seian Maru, the
Japanese Patrol Boat,the Sakura
Lionfish in hold Maruand the deep wreck LST.
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