Diving the Nichi Asu Maru

[antacid]

Hi everyone,

Some pictures from a recent trip to the Kuantan Wreck. Conditions were almost perfect with great visibility, and no currents. We managed 3 dives at the wreck, and also had 2 fantastic dives in the 2nd day at 2 lesser dived sites off Tioman.

I could see the bottom of the wreck when I was tying off deco tanks at 5m!

#1 - Trucks in the desert. Spot the stowaway!

#2 - Soft coral on the wreck

#3 - Wall diving

#4 - Hello?

#5 - Broken communication

 

[antacid]

#6 - Oil slick

#7 - Shrimp (what is this?)

#8 - Kuah simi?

#9 - Keeping a lookout

#10 - Crawling on the moon

Hope you've enjoyed them! First time diving with a new lens and it worked great! Unfortunately the macros weren't as sharp as I would have liked, and I'm trying to figure out why. The 10-17 fisheye actually produces sharper and crisper images than my 100/2.8! sigh.

You can see more of the pictures here: www.colouredshots.com/site/underwater.htm

 

[glzco]

wow.. great photos.. i am planning to go ahead to kuantan wreck.. but due to budget constraints.. no chance yet.. =| in any case.. i heard the sea conditions there are quite bad most of the times.. my fren told me every diver who went on his trip to the wreck all got sea sick and vomitted.. =|

 

[antacid]

it's not expensive to go..maybe about $450 for a weekend trip?

yes sea conditions can be quite rough if you're unlucky. always good to stock up on dramamine before the trip!

i am considering to go again in July..haha

 

[Dr Bob]

Great collection John
Can you give us some details on getting there etc?
As much as you like

 

[antacid]

Great collection John
Can you give us some details on getting there etc?
As much as you like

Hi Dr Bob, glad you liked them.

Diving the Kuantan Wreck is mostly done on liveaboards departing from Malaysia.

Getting there is really easy from Singapore. You hop on a bus/minivan in Singapore at 7 or 8pm, and it's about a 3 hour drive up to the jetty at Endau or Penyabong in the state of Johor in Malaysia. You board the LOB at about midnight, have a late supper of delicious fried noodles, rig up your gear and go to bed.

When you wake up at 8 in the morning, you're over the wreck and ready to dive!

You can view the location & coordinates here:
http://malaysia.greatestdivesites.com/divesites/add_dive_site?id=5377&type=edit

It's usually tough to find GPS or lat/long coordinates for such wrecks, because it means money to the operators.

Generally a trip to the Kuantan Wreck is done over the weekend. Travel on Friday night, and start diving at 8am on Saturday. About 2 dives over the wreck, before heading over to the Veralla Wreck (Gyoshin/Kyoshin Maru) for a dusk/night dive. Main attraction there are the twin AA guns scattered with lots of live ordnance (or what's left after all the scavengers and treasure hunters are done).

Then on Sunday, it's 2 dives at the outer reefs of Tioman before heading back to Endau at about 4pm. A 4-5 hour bus ride and you're back in Singapore by 8pm on Sunday.

Alternatively, you can book yourself on the White Manta which departs direct from Singapore. I'm going on a trip from 7-10 August with the WM which is going to the Kuantan Wreck. Also considering going for another one in July with my regular diveshop...decisions decisions...

 

[lovells19]

Nice set,

now you make me regret never go with you all lol

 

[antacid]

still got chance to go in july...haha

this time i must bring my magic filters...*slurp*

 

[Knighthunter]

Me & wife booed trip on WM this August to Kuantan, I hope it would be blessed with good weather this trip will be my first LOB experience. After seeing you photo waiting for the trip feels longer.....nice photo collection you have there.

 

[antacid]

oh that's great...i'll see you on the trip then! my girlfriend needs a refresher before our "big" trip in late August, hence the decision to do a LOB on WM.

keep your fingers crossed, and bring lots of dramamine! haha

 

[jeediver]

It nice to dive along the wall dive. Did you go to the wreck where there is giant resident grouper?