Labuan Federal Territory

Malaysia

This is a 92m long (2650 Tons) Japanese cargo ship; sunk Sept 15, 1980.



The Cement Wreck is also known as M.V. Tung Hwang.

Labuan

The Cement Wreck

The Tung Huang is a freighter that sank while transporting cement to Brunei for the Sultan's new palace on 25 September 1980. It hit the Samarang Bank and sank as it tried to reach Labuan for repairs. The wreck now lies east of Kuraman Island and just 21 km from Labuan. The vessel, 92m long, 15m wide and 7.5m deep sits vertically on the seabed at 30m. It is the easiest wreck to navigate, making it ideal for training in wreck diving.

Divers can penetrate the cargo hold and docks however nets are draped all over the vessel so care must be taken. The easy penetrations to the engine room and superstructure are riskier now days as the structure is slowly taken by the sea. The funnel fell over to port in the late 1990's and the storms of August 2002, caused the hydraulic pumping of the sea to blow out a number of superstructure panels. There is a great variety of marine life to be found here including barracuda, turtles, lion fish and reef fish. Soft and hard corals grow on the surface of the wreck, which makes this the best Labuan wreck for underwater photography.
Source: www.asiadivesite.com

21 km South-SouthWest of the Labuan Marina and West of Kuraman Island. 40 min by speedboat from the marina.

The Cement Wreck is also known as Tung Huang.

This 60m long wreck is broken in two parts; lays on a sand bottom. Hit on a mine June 8th, 1945.



The American Wreck is also known as USS Salute AM 294.

The American Wreck

This World War II US Navy minesweeper lies around 24 kilometers south of Labuan in roughly 30 meters of water. The USS Salute was built in Seattle, in 1943. It was first put into service in Hawaii in 1944 escorting convoys between Pearl Harbor and several ports in the Far East. Later it was involved in intense action, providing protection for anti-aircraft vessels and submarine, as well as minesweeping. After several minesweeping operations in the Philippines, the ship began operating in Brunei Bay where it struck a mine in 1945. Nine US sailors lost their lives when she sank.

Diving reveals that the stern is relatively intact with depth charge rails on deck and the top blades of the propellers just visible beneath at 30 metres deep. A huge mass looms up which are the bows facing sternwards. Off to starboard of the stern is a third large part of the ship, it is clearly evident how much damage was done by the mine. The wreck can be penetrated but be very careful as she is slowly collapsing and there is live ammunition around. 
Source: www.asiadivesite.com

24 km SW of the Marina; 45 min by speed boat.

American Wreck is also known as AM-294, USS Salute.

American Wreck

Until recently this ship thought to have been sunk by the Royal Australian Air force, has now been identified as the Dutch vessel SS De Klerk. Scuttled by the Dutch in 1942 but salvaged by the Japanese and renamed Imabari Maru, she hit a mine and sunk 23km southwest of Labuan in 1944. She now lies at a fifty-degree angle on her port side, with only her metal skeleton left to attract abundant fish life. 339 passengers lost their lives, mostly workers and prisoners of war.

The steam engine is a good example of its kind and the wreck is easy to penetrate. The vessel lies in 35 metres with the high side of the wreck rising to 25 metres. There is a huge blast hole in the starboard side. At the stern is the steel propeller which was visible in 1993 but was covered by sand in 2003.
Source: www.asiadivesite.com

23 km Southwest of Labuan; 45min by speedboat from the marina.

Australian Wreck is also known as SS De Klerk, Imabari Maru.

Australian Wreck

This is a 91m long cargo steamer; sunk September 16th, 1944 on a mine.



The Australian Wreck is also known as S.S. De Clerk, Imbari Maru, Imaji Maru.

The Australian Wreck

This wreck lies northeast of Kuraman Island and is 34 km from Labuan. It gets its name from the clear 'blue' waters it lies lies in and of all the wrecks in the area this one has the best visibility. The Mabini Padre is a large Philippines fishing trawler, which caught fire and sank in 1981.  The vessel lies on its port side in 35 metres with the starboard side rising to 24 metres. The side is a garden of soft corals ( dendronephthya ) and marine growth has encompassed a lot of this ship.

The hull is easily penetrated aft of the bridge superstructure, however, as in all wrecks, the chance of a rust-out, particularly in any machine spaces is an ever present risk. The swim through the stern trawl shute allows divers to pass round and under the stern to observe the single screw. 
Source: www.asiadivesite.com

34 km from Labuan, NorthEast of Kuraman Island. 50 min by speedboat from the marina.

Blue Water Wreck is also known as MV Mabine Padre.

The Cement Wreck

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at The Cement Wreck