Puerto Galera · Philippines · Wreck · Artificial reef
Alma Jane Wreck
A cargo hull upright at 30 m, lit through its own skylights
Area photo: Firth McEachern · CC BY-SA 4.0
A Filipino cargo vessel sunk in 2003, standing upright on the sandy bottom at 30 m off Sabang. Her wide beam and deep draft make her a straightforward swim-through, and several skylights let in enough daylight that a small torch is all the inside needs. The superstructure is falling apart, and that is where the lionfish live.
Also known as MV Alma Jane.
Where it is and how deep
13.5226° N, 120.9736° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
Follow the mooring line down to the rudder, where you will always find groups of sweetlips, batfish and rabbit fish. Working around the outline of the hull, big scorpionfish try to blend in against the plating and pufferfish tuck themselves in under it. She stands square and upright on the sand at 30 m, with no list to complicate the way round her.
Inside, the wide beam and deep draft make her a good swim-through, and light comes in from several skylights, so there is no need for more than a small torch. The superstructure is the part going fastest and it is also the busiest: countless lionfish have made it their home, along with trumpet fish and large snappers. Frogfish are very often found sitting on the wooden structure, and a big variety of shrimps hide under the debris. It is an excellent nitrox dive, and at 30 m the extra bottom time is the whole point.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Alma Jane
- Type
- Filipino cargo vessel
- Sunk
- 2003
- Cause
- Scuttled to serve as an artificial reef
- Lies
- Upright on the sandy bottom at 30 m, rudder below the mooring line
The Alma Jane was a Filipino cargo vessel before she was sunk in 2003 to make an artificial reef off Sabang. She has aged faster than her years — she looks about two decades older than she is — and the superstructure in particular is fast falling apart, which is exactly what has turned her into habitat: lionfish in numbers, with trumpet fish and large snappers alongside them.
Marine life and season
- Frogfish
- Reef fish swarms
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good |
Season follows Puerto Galera: November–May dry season is calmest; June–October southwest monsoon brings rain and swell.
Know before you go
- At 30 m the no-stop clock runs fast, so plan the swim-through around gas and time instead of exploring the hull on the fly.
- The superstructure is fast falling apart, so the way through changes: keep clear of collapsed plating and do not push into anything you cannot back out of.
Dive videos
Travel Philippines - Diving Puerto Galera 2024 - Alma Jane Wreck in 4K · Chris David on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Alma Jane wreck?+
She stands upright on the sandy bottom at 30 m, so the dive is planned as a deep no-stop profile. PADI lists Advanced Open Water, Wreck Diver and Enriched Air as useful training for the site.
Can you go inside the Alma Jane?+
Yes. The wide beam and deep draft make the hull a straightforward swim-through, and skylights let in enough daylight that a small torch is all you need. The superstructure is falling apart, so stay out of anything unstable.
Sources
- Alma Jane dive site | PADI — PADI
In The Logbook
- How a dive computer calculates no-stop timeBody & health · 10 min read
- Air, nitrox or trimix: which gas, and when?Gear & kit · 15 min read
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