NBM Dive Site Resource
U-859 — Penang historical salvage wreck
Penang offshore, Penang, Malaysia
A Type IXD2 submarine lost near Penang in 1944, with historical human salvage dives documented by 1969. Current surviving remains, depth and access have not been verified.
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Featured Hero Photograph
Aquatic life at this dive site
What divers may encounter
Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Site media
Photographs
Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Contributor media
Dive videos
Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.Regional location and nearby land
Location map
Regional context around Strait of Malacca near Penang, including nearby land. This is not a surveyed dive-navigation position.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Recent field observations
Diver-reported temperatures
Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.
Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
Historical human-dived submarine wreck associated with mercury salvage and a 1974 Singapore court case.
Shipwreck-only module
The wreck
This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.
- Vessel type
- German Type IXD2 submarine
- Year built
- 1943 (commissioned)
- Year sunk
- 1944
- Cause of loss
- Torpedoed near Penang by HMS Trenchant on September 23, 1944.
- Present condition
- The contemporary 1975 account describes recovered mercury and the submarine then remaining on the seabed. Subsequent salvage extent and current remains have not been established.
- Penetration guidance
- No penetration, disturbance or recovery authorization is implied.
Before you arrive
Access notes
Historical human diving is documented. No current access authorization or recreational dive operation was verified. The 1974 salvage litigation is historical evidence, not permission to visit or recover material.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Unsurveyed damaged wreckage, possible entanglement and ordnance, shipping traffic, unknown conditions and mercury cargo or contamination concerns.
Independent resource notice
This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.