Freediving in Balesin: The Plane Wreck

In 2021, Azul Freediving explored one of Balesin's most unusual dive sites: the Plane Wreck.

The site is located offshore from the island, requiring approximately a 10–15-minute swim from the pier or a short boat ride. On the day of our dive, visibility was around 25 meters, giving us a clear view of the wreck as we descended.

The shallowest part of the aircraft was approximately 18 meters deep, with the bottom section reaching around 25 meters. Several smaller aircraft sections and pieces of wreckage could also be seen around the main plane.

The Story Behind the Plane Wreck

The aircraft at the site is a BAe 146-200 operated by SkyJet Airlines. In October 2013, the aircraft was involved in a runway overrun while landing at Balesin. All 75 people on board survived.

The aircraft was later left in the coastal area and eventually became part of Balesin's dive sites.

Today, the plane sits underwater with additional aircraft sections and wreckage scattered around the main aircraft.

Inside the Plane Wreck

One of the most interesting parts of the dive was looking inside the aircraft.

All of the passenger seats had been removed, leaving the cabin completely hollow. Without the seats and other fittings that would normally fill the interior, the empty cabin looked almost unrecognizable compared with a functioning passenger aircraft.

Swimming around the outside gives you a clear sense of the aircraft's size, but looking into the empty interior creates a very different experience. The dark, open cabin gave the wreck an eerie appearance underwater.

The Hard Coral Reefs Near the Beach

Away from the deeper wreck site, Balesin also has extensive hard coral reefs close to the beach.

These shallow reef areas are very different from the Plane Wreck. Instead of an artificial structure on the deeper seafloor, the underwater landscape here is dominated by hard coral formations, providing areas to explore at much shallower depths.

The reefs offer a good contrast to the wreck and make Balesin interesting for freediving beyond the deeper Plane Wreck site.

Add the Balesin Plane Wreck to Your Freediving Bucket List

If you enjoy exploring unusual dive sites, add the Balesin Plane Wreck to your freediving bucket list. Descending to an aircraft sitting 18–25 meters underwater, looking into its empty cabin, and exploring the wreckage around it is an experience you won't get on a typical reef dive.