Australian Wreck

Best time to dive

January to December; February to June; November to January

What you might see

• Grey reef sharkLikely

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Technical - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Not a snorkel site - No - wreck lies at 21m+ minimum, not snorkelable

Safety notes

War grave - former Dutch steamer SS De Klerk (scuttled 1942, salvaged by Japan as Imabari Maru) struck a mine in 1944 with 339 lives lost including forced laborers/POWs; divers report skeletal remains and treat the site with a solemn/'haunted' reputation - no artifact removal, penetrate with care and respect; large starboard blast hole and unstable 50-degree list create entanglement/disorientation risk; reduced visibility (<10m) increases the chance of silt-out during any penetration; depth to 35m requires deep-diving competence

Permits & fees

Within Labuan Marine Park (Dept. of Fisheries); operator trip prices bundle marine park/permit fees - no separate published fee found; recognized as a protected heritage/war-grave site by Malaysia's national heritage department since 2011 - respect wreck-as-grave etiquette (no penetration of enclosed spaces where remains may be present, no souvenir-taking)

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Labuan