Sarawak Wrecks & Reefs

Miri provides accessible wreck diving that blends artificial reefs with historical maritime casualties from the Second World War. These wrecks demand advanced buoyancy control due to strong surface currents and sudden drops in visibility caused by riverine sediment.

The Atago Maru is a World War II Japanese commercial ship located a short boat ride off the coast of Lutong. The wreck rests in 14 metres of water heavily broken and partly buried in silt from the Baram River. It is completely encrusted in cave corals and serves as a vital habitat for large moray eels.

The Sri Gadong Wreck is located approximately 60 minutes from the marina. This 30-metre cargo ship rests on a sandy bottom at 18–20 metres. Look for yellow grunts around the structure and giant groupers sheltering in the cargo holds.

The Kenyalang Wreck was created from a decommissioned oil rig known as Baram 8. This site represents a successful rig-to-reef development executed by Shell and Petronas. The wreck lies flat on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of 22–25 metres. Advanced divers frequently encounter large groupers and sea snakes moving over the industrial beams.

The epicentre of coastal marine activity near Kuching is the Talang-Satang National Park. The park encompasses 19,414 hectares of protected waters surrounding 4 islands.

Talang-Satang is a critical sanctuary for endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). The Sarawak Forestry Corporation operates under a mandate where conservation takes absolute priority over tourism. General visitors need special pre-arranged permission to come within 2.8 kilometres of Pulau Talang Besar, Pulau Talang Kecil, Pulau Satang Kecil or the Ara-Banun Wildlife Sanctuary. Recreational scuba diving is permitted only within tightly designated zones around Pulau Satang Besar. All divers must be accompanied by an approved dive guide and must rent essential life-support equipment directly from the operations office.

Outside the national park the deeper waters off Kuching hold significant underwater cultural heritage. The wrecks date from the Japanese invasion of Borneo in 1941. Three primary shipwrecks form the core of Kuching's advanced dive offerings today.

The Katori Maru is a 150-metre troopship resting at a bottom depth of 22 metres. Severe illegal salvaging has removed an estimated 70% of its superstructure but the hull remains a critical artificial reef hosting schooling barracuda. The Hiyoshi Maru is remarkably intact at 21 metres and acts as a hunting ground for giant groupers. The IJN Sagiri is a Japanese destroyer resting slightly deeper at 26 metres. Diving the Sagiri requires extreme caution as the site is notorious for strong sweeping currents and low visibility.

Kuching dive operations are based out of the city and coastal jetties. Premier Marine and Scuba Centre operates as a PADI 5-Star Dive Centre out of Milan Square. Kuching Scuba Centre provides city-based retail and training facilities. Aquabase Scuba Diving operates out of Damai Central near Santubong providing direct access to coastal launch points. Overland travel to departure jetties means most operators mandate minimum group sizes to execute a trip.

Located approximately 100 nautical miles off the coast of Bintulu and Miri the Luconia Shoals represent Sarawak’s extreme offshore frontier. The shoals offer steep drop-offs and opportunities for pelagic encounters far removed from coastal river runoff.

Diving Luconia is strictly a liveaboard endeavour. Ask us about the itinerary from Miri and its current availability. Because of the offshore location and potential for unmoored blue-water drift diving this destination is tailored exclusively for highly experienced divers.

The operating status for the Luconia Shoals must be classified as high risk heading into the 2026 season. The primary variable dictating the viability of diving these shoals is intense geopolitical friction. The China Coast Guard maintains a near-constant presence in the shoals. Operators must be consulted immediately prior to booking to confirm current access.

For a short trip, choose one of these diving legs to fit beside your wider Borneo itinerary.

1. Kuching wrecks: Base yourself in Kuching to explore the Hiyoshi Maru and IJN Sagiri.
2. Talang-Satang reefs: Explore the highly regulated reefs using pre-arranged permits.
3. Miri reefs and wrecks: Fly to Miri for shallow patch reefs and artificial rig-to-reef structures. Experienced divers can include the Tukau Drop-off and the Kenyalang Wreck.

You can link the Miri-Sibuti park with Sabah's east coast. Upon transit in Kota Kinabalu travellers connect onward to Tawau. The total travel time from Miri to Tawau averages 3 hours and 20 minutes. If you dive Sipadan during the Sabah leg you will experience the stark contrast between Celebes Sea walls and Sarawakian patch reefs.

Send your dates the names of everyone coming and your certification levels. The team comes back with what can be arranged for a Sarawak itinerary.