Gangneung · South Korea · Wreck · Artificial reef
Stella wreck
A Russian trawler scuttled in 2020 with its upper works at 6 m
The Stella is a 2,400-tonne former Russian fishing vessel scuttled off Gangneung in May 2020 to serve as an artificial reef. It is the big draw of diving out of Gangneung, a steel hull that runs from upper works in shallow water down to a base in deep water.
Also known as Stella, The Stella, 스텔라호.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Gangneung and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The superstructure begins around 6 m down, so the top of the wreck can be explored on a shallow profile while the hull falls away to its bottom near 39 m. The trawler has penetration and swim-through points on multiple decks, and a complete swim-through runs through all levels and into the engine room. Most accessible areas have multiple openings and good light. Schools of fish hang around the wreck, and most of it is covered in mussels.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Stella
- Type
- Former Russian fishing trawler (2,400 tonnes)
- Sunk
- 2020
- Cause
- Deliberately sunk as an artificial reef
- Lies
- Off Gangneung in the underwater park, superstructure from about 6 m and hull bottom near 39 m
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Gangneung: July to October is best; winter brings the clearest water, with 2 to 4 °C in January and February.
Know before you go
- Cold water at depth, around 12 to 13 °C even in August.
Dive videos
[4K] 청물 들어온 강릉바다 스텔라 시야 미쳤다 | 강릉 스텔라 | 경포다이브리조트 · 박장대소 BigSmall_Couple on YouTube
[스쿠버다이빙] 강릉 스텔라 난파선 l stella wreck · seawaterfilm on YouTube
Sources
- Korea scuba diving — Seoulz
- Gangneung 2022.08.13-16 trip report — ScubaBoard
More dive sites in Gangneung
Reef
A first-dive seabed five minutes by boat from Sacheon Port
Reef
Coral and sea pines on a reef with a descent line
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