Wrecks of the South China Sea, 23-30 April 2008

Kevrumbo · August 3rd, 2007, 12:27 AM

Through Techasia Puerto Galera PI, on the Tech Liveaboard M/V Empress, embarkation is from Singapore. Currently eight spaces available.

Went on this same trip in April 2006 and had a fantastic time in Singapore (shopping, food and the urban nightlife of one of the great cities in SE Asia); as well as fascinating, challenging deep dives on the Super Tanker Seven Skies; and the two most historically significant battleship wrecks of WWII sunk in action: HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse.

decoweenie · August 3rd, 2007, 04:35 PM

Make sure to get the latest update information regarding visiting 7-skies.

We were there a few months ago, and have informed about new Malaysian regulations went into effect. One of the live-aboards got in trouble with the Malay coast guard for not following the regs...

Anyway, not too sure about 7-skies as a "challenging wreck"...

10 years ago, it was used to be the warm-up wreck before going out to others. So I guess it got harder...

vid · August 3rd, 2007, 04:45 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Kevrumbo)

Through Techasia Puerto Galera PI, on the Tech Liveaboard M/V Empress, embarkation is from Singapore. Currently eight spaces available.

Went on this same trip in April 2006 and had a fantastic time in Singapore (shopping, food and the urban nightlife of one of the great cities in SE Asia); as well as fascinating, challenging deep dives on the Super Tanker Seven Skies; and the two most historically significant battleship wrecks of WWII sunk in action: HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse.

any idea if that's diving on each day of 23rd to 30th, or does that include travel time in which case, how many days diving do you get?

vid

Kevrumbo · August 3rd, 2007, 10:53 PM

Here's a sample itinerary/plan of the last trip 2006:

Leave Singapore (Punggol Marina) night of April 14th. Return 19th in AM.
Includes wrecks such as :
Seven Skies, 98,000 tonne tanker, 22 to 64m deep.
HMS Repulse, 240m long battlecruiser, 30-57m
HMS Prince Of Wales battleship, 50-68m
Altair, modern tanker broke in half and landed on itself, 33-72m
Pulau Aur unidentified 14,000 tonne Brit Tanker, 50-62m
Sarah-D, 150m freighter, 34-50m
If extending to six or seven days finishing in Borneo, route can include -
D'Artagnan, 20,000 tonne French Liner, 55-70m
Shimotsuki, Jap destroyer, 61-73m or Sagiri, 25m
Riviera Sky, 55,000 tonne ore carrier, 28-53m

(Good Google Earth Map here from RecnTec. . .)

$1350 for the five day versions ($1650 for six days), gas cost est. $500-$800. (Note: this is for the Liveaboard & Dive-Ops only. Roundtrip airfare to Singapore from your home destination is separately arranged by you or a travel agent).

Two deep dives a day was the norm (we had one day only were we did three dives on the Repulse). A Scooter is mandatory to facilitate getting down quickly on the Wrecks because of currents on the surface and at depth (especially POW & Repulse) --otherwise you will be hauling yourself hand-over-hand down the anchorline. . .

Absolutely fascinating and sobering: the two sunken WWII Royal Navy Battleships symbolizing the very end of the British SE Asia Empire (and the folly of attempting to fight-off an enemy air assault without suitable defending air cover of your own). . .

August 3rd, 2007, 12:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kevrumbo(Offline) Sunda Strait 29Jul-04Aug Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles, South Santa Monica Bay Calif, USA Posts: 161	Through Techasia Puerto Galera PI, on the Tech Liveaboard M/V Empress, embarkation is from Singapore. Currently eight spaces available. Went on this same trip in April 2006 and had a fantastic time in Singapore (shopping, food and the urban nightlife of one of the great cities in SE Asia); as well as fascinating, challenging deep dives on the Super Tanker Seven Skies; and the two most historically significant battleship wrecks of WWII sunk in action: HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. __________________ "I shall never rest my head on my pillow in peace and quiet as long as I remember the loss of my American colonies." -King George III, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvn-bYVR2YI

August 3rd, 2007, 10:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kevrumbo(Offline) Sunda Strait 29Jul-04Aug Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles, South Santa Monica Bay Calif, USA Posts: 161	Here's a sample itinerary/plan of the last trip 2006: Leave Singapore (Punggol Marina) night of April 14th. Return 19th in AM. Includes wrecks such as : Seven Skies, 98,000 tonne tanker, 22 to 64m deep. HMS Repulse, 240m long battlecruiser, 30-57m HMS Prince Of Wales battleship, 50-68m Altair, modern tanker broke in half and landed on itself, 33-72m Pulau Aur unidentified 14,000 tonne Brit Tanker, 50-62m Sarah-D, 150m freighter, 34-50m If extending to six or seven days finishing in Borneo, route can include - D'Artagnan, 20,000 tonne French Liner, 55-70m Shimotsuki, Jap destroyer, 61-73m or Sagiri, 25m Riviera Sky, 55,000 tonne ore carrier, 28-53m (Good Google Earth Map here from RecnTec. . .) $1350 for the five day versions ($1650 for six days), gas cost est. $500-$800. (Note: this is for the Liveaboard & Dive-Ops only. Roundtrip airfare to Singapore from your home destination is separately arranged by you or a travel agent). Two deep dives a day was the norm (we had one day only were we did three dives on the Repulse). A Scooter is mandatory to facilitate getting down quickly on the Wrecks because of currents on the surface and at depth (especially POW & Repulse) --otherwise you will be hauling yourself hand-over-hand down the anchorline. . . Absolutely fascinating and sobering: the two sunken WWII Royal Navy Battleships symbolizing the very end of the British SE Asia Empire (and the folly of attempting to fight-off an enemy air assault without suitable defending air cover of your own). . . __________________ "I shall never rest my head on my pillow in peace and quiet as long as I remember the loss of my American colonies." -King George III, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvn-bYVR2YI Last edited by Kevrumbo; August 7th, 2007 at 05:49 AM..

August 3rd, 2007, 04:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
decoweenie(Offline) New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: - Posts: 154	Make sure to get the latest update information regarding visiting 7-skies. We were there a few months ago, and have informed about new Malaysian regulations went into effect. One of the live-aboards got in trouble with the Malay coast guard for not following the regs... Anyway, not too sure about 7-skies as a "challenging wreck"... 10 years ago, it was used to be the warm-up wreck before going out to others. So I guess it got harder...

August 3rd, 2007, 04:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
vid(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: london/surrey border, UK Posts: 356	Quote: (Originally Posted by Kevrumbo) Through Techasia Puerto Galera PI, on the Tech Liveaboard M/V Empress, embarkation is from Singapore. Currently eight spaces available. Went on this same trip in April 2006 and had a fantastic time in Singapore (shopping, food and the urban nightlife of one of the great cities in SE Asia); as well as fascinating, challenging deep dives on the Super Tanker Seven Skies; and the two most historically significant battleship wrecks of WWII sunk in action: HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse. any idea if that's diving on each day of 23rd to 30th, or does that include travel time in which case, how many days diving do you get? vid