Reefwander
Reefwander
Full calendar

Destinations at their peak each month

  1. Jan167
  2. Feb183
  3. Mar192
  4. Apr216
  5. May186
  6. Jun272
  7. Jul307
  8. Aug313
  9. Sep296
  10. Oct180
  11. Nov119
  12. Dec145

Americas

Europe, Africa & Middle East

Indo-Pacific

Biak & Padaido Islands · Indonesia · Wreck · Coral garden

Catalina Wreck

A wartime US seaplane lying virtually intact on the seabed off Biak.

Catalina Wreck is an American seaplane from the Second World War that served in the Pacific War against the Japanese and now rests on the seabed east of the port of Biak. It is an easy boat dive in low to medium current, and divers come for a wartime aircraft that lies whole on the bottom, with reef life and small subjects on the slope around it.

Also known as Catalina Wreck Point, Catalina.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Catalina Wreck: typical dive to 30 m (to 100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit30 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

1.2139° S, 136.0657° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The seaplane lies undamaged at 30 m near BMJ/Samau Harbour, beside a gentle slope covered by a coral garden. Angelfish, lionfish, damselfish and other small fish swarm around the wreckage, while the slope holds schooling fusiliers, colourful nudibranchs, tiny shrimps and camouflaged crabs, so wide-angle work on the aircraft and macro hunting share the same dive.

The wreck

Vessel
Catalina seaplane
Type
US seaplane of the Second World War
Cause
Cause of the loss not recorded
Lies
Virtually intact on the seabed at 30 m, east of the port of Biak

Marine life and season

  • Reef fish swarms
  • Nudibranchs
  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for Catalina Wreck
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairFairPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeFairFairFair

Season follows Biak & Padaido Islands: The dry season, May to September, brings calm seas for the crossings to the Padaido Islands; the wetter months are less certain.

Dive videos

Catalina The Wreck Plane (4K) - Biak Papua Indonesia · Cavell on YouTube

Sources

  1. Catalina Wreck Point dive site — PADI
  2. Biak: hidden paradise — The Jakarta Post

More dive sites in Biak & Padaido Islands

Cave & cavern

Wundi Cave

A tunnel through an undersea cave in the Padaido Islands.

to 30 mintermediate

Similar dives elsewhere

Wreck

Cement Wreck

Labuan & Brunei Wrecks · Malaysia

MV Tung Hwang: a 92 m freighter standing upright off Labuan from 8 m to 32 m

8–32 mintermediate

Wreck

Alma Jane Wreck

Puerto Galera · Philippines

A cargo hull upright at 30 m, lit through its own skylights

to 30 madvanced

Wreck

Copton Point

Moalboal · Philippines

A two-seat aircraft sunk on sand at 20 m, with a wall beyond

20–28 m · max 80 mintermediate

Wreck

Bonegi II

Iron Bottom Sound · Solomon Islands

A 133 m transport whose engine still breaks the surface

to 27 mintermediate