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A small white nudibranch with dark markings on ruffled olive-brown seaweed over pink encrusted rock, green water behind — Hong Kong.

Hong Kong · Hong Kong · Wreck

Hoi Ha Wreck

Nudibranch-covered barge hull a short way from Hoi Ha jetty

Area photo: Eddie Yip · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Hoi Ha Wreck is the hull of a ferro-cement barge that once carried out reclamation work nearby, now lying about 300 m from the small jetty in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. It is a shallow wreck at about 7 m, and at certain times of the year many nudibranchs live on it.

Also known as Hoi Ha Wan wreck.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Hoi Ha Wreck: typical dive to 7 m (to 23 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit7 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

22.4710° N, 114.3354° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The barge hull is 20 m long and faces north on a mud seabed at about 7 m. Large concrete-filled drums sit at the bow and big pieces of metal at the stern, and swimming in and around the hull is quite safe. Sea life covers the structure, and large sea anemones around its base shelter small cleaner shrimp.

The wreck

Vessel
Unnamed reclamation barge
Type
Ferro-cement barge
Length
20 m (66 ft)
Cause
Not recorded
Lies
On a mud seabed at about 7 m, hull facing north

Marine life and season

  • Nudibranchs
Month-by-month season rating for Hoi Ha Wreck
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimeFairFairGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Hong Kong: May and June are the best months; algae bloom and wind cut visibility from July to September.

Know before you go

  • The seabed is mud, so careless finning near the hull silts out the water.
  • A few places have sharp metal edges, some sections have small overheads covered in barnacles, and sea urchins are plentiful on the wreck.

Dive videos

Sai Kung Scuba - Hoi Ha Wan Wreck Dive Feb 2023 · See What I Sea on YouTube

Sources

  1. Hoi Ha Wan - Asia Dive Site — Asia Dive Site
  2. Hoi Ha Wan — Wikipedia

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