Dive spots and wrecks around Truk Lagoon
- General
- Dive spots
- Accomodation
- Fauna
- Sites
There are well over 40 well known divesites in Truk. Choose wisely, but I don’t think any one will disappoint. Nonetheless, I think you need to make a selection.
The 2 most interesting divesites are the San Francisco Maru and the Nippo Maru.
More facts about the wrecks...
Here is a map of the location of the most common wrecks around Chuuk.
Amagisan Maru | depth 70 m
Length: 137 metres
Built: 6 November 1933
Tonnage: 7,620 ts
Rests on 45 degree list to port side : /
Oil and aviation fuel dribble from this 454 foot cargo vessel in 200 feet of water. Ship lies with a 45 degree list to the port side. She was attacked by nine planes from Bunker Hill, and was hit by a 1,000 lbs bomb and a solid torpedo hit. She burned and quickly sunk. The No.1 hold contains only a few crushed 55 gallon drums and there is a large car too. There is a 10 foot long aileron (paravane) used for mine sweeping hanging off the port side. There is a large hole from the torpedo hit on the starboard side of the hold. There is a stern gun, and the ship's planking is burned from the fire. The ship's safe was salvaged in recent time, but its contents were not publicized.
Today the Amagisan Maru lies on a gentle slope with the bow in less than 30 metres and the stern in 58 metres. The wreck has a 45 to 50º list to the port and faces back towards the southern end of Uman Island.
This is an interesting wreck, it's only a pity it is in such deep water. There was a fuel tanker truck on the deck when the ship went down. It has slid off the deck and lies on the sand next to the forward hold. The forward masts has fallen over and hit the cabin of the tanker, crushing it.
There is a large bow gun still intact, and the anchor can be see lying out on the sand with the chain running all the way back into the ship. The forward number 1 hold is mainly empty except for a few empty fuel drums. Hold number 2 contains some aircraft wings and more barrels. At the rear of the hold is a car with its cab mostly intact.
Don’t miss: Her most interesting features include a bow gun, “staff cars” in hold No. 2 and a tank truck on the sea floor.
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Aikoku Maru “Swallow Bird” | depth 64 m
Length: 150 metres
Built:
Tonnage: 10,437 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The Aikoku Maru is a large combined freighter/passenger liner, resting on an even keel. The holds are empty and the Midship superstructure has collapsed. Penetration of this wreck is strongly discouraged. The first hold aft held troop quarters but has been cleared of the remains. A large anti-aircraft gun is located on top of the aft deckhouse.
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Fujikawa Maru | depth 34 m
Length: 132 metres
Built: 1938
Tonnage: 6,938 ts
Rests on almost even keel: ⊥
The most popular wreck in Truk Lagoon, the Fujikawa Maru is a must dive. This is probably one of the best wreckdives in the world and features in many “Top X” wreckdives list. Whether your interest is in artifacts or marine life this wreck has it. An abundant growth of soft & hard corals, anemones, & crinoids make the ship & particularly the bow & stern guns very photogenic. All the holds contain cargo but a unique attraction lays in hold #2. There you will find five relatively untouched and intact Zero fighters. The engine room is very interesting but requires special diving skills to visit.
Don’t miss: The “famous” robot-looking compressor, Zero planes
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Fumitsuki | depth 40 m
Built: 1925
Tonnage: 1,772 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The Destroyer Fumitsuki (or Fumitzuki) is one of only a couple of 'military' vessels in the lagoon. She was built in 1925 and launched 16th February 1926. She was capable of 37 knots but under fully loaded conditions could reach 33.5 knots.
The Fumitsuki was transferred to Chuuk from Rabaul in 1944 to allows repairs to be completed, since Rabaul was being continually bombed. At the time of the attack on Chuuk she was anchor close to the Hoyo Maru awaiting repairs.
She wasn’t immediately attacked in the first wave and while at anchor she returned fire against the attacking planes. She was targeted around midday by bombers who scored a direct with a single bomb after the Fumitsuki tried evasive manoeuvres, stopping her dead in the water.
Other vessels attempted to tow her to shore but she was taking on too much water and listing. She dropped anchors and eventually sank.
Wreck Description
The Fumitsuki lies in about 38-40m of water with the deck at about 33m, and a small list to port. There is a smallish bow gun with boxes of ammunition to the front and rear. The anchor chains are extending out in front of the ship, however one is broken off.
One of the more impressive features is the torpedo launchers. They hold 3 torpedos and are fired from a swivel mounted launcher. The wreck is a long way off shore out in the lagoon north of Udot Island.
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Da Na Hino Maru | depth 10 m
Length: 70 metres
Built: 16 september 1935
Tonnage: 999 ts
The Da Na Hino Maru was attacked by aircraft which bombed, rocketed and strafed her. The force of the explosions has left her totally destroyed from the inside out. Resting on a sloping bottom, the picturesque symbol of Truk Lagoon, now lies on her keel in 30 fsw off Uman Island.
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Kawanishii H8K2 “Emily” Flying boat | depth 16 m
Length: 28,1 metres
Built: after August 1941
Weight: 34.000 lb
The wreck of the Kawanishi H8K1 “Emily” flying boat lies upside down at a depth of 16 metres. It was powered by four radial air-cooled engines with four-bladed metal airscrews. It had a wing span of 38 metres and a length of 28 metres. The aircraft was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with large strut-braced wing-tip floats.
The wing is in good shape, but the four engines have fallen to the sea floor. The fuselage (which should be on top of the wing) is in three pieces on the bottom, with bits scattered everywhere. Photographs and specifications of the aircraft show that it is similar in size and appearance to the British Short Sunderland.
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Heian Maru “Swallow Bird” | depth 33 m
Drawing used with permission © Lance Higgs / Thorfinn
Dive site drawing courtesy of Aggressor.
Length: 155 metres
Built: Osaka Iron Works, 19th of June, 1929
Tonnage: 11,616 ts
Rests on leeward side: ⊃
This ship was a passenger and cargo liner, which was converted into a submarine depot ship. Originally, she was a passenger ship designed for luxury service between Yokohama and Seattle.
It is the largest ship in the lagoon and lies in the old submarine anchorage.
Long Lance torpedoes can be found. Periscopes lay in two companionways on levels below & aft of the bridge.Many artifacts can be found throughout this wreck.
The Heian Maru was sunk by a Grumman TBF "Avenger" with a torpedo in the raid on Truk in February 1944.
Don’t miss: An interesting feature is the coils of degaussing cable wrapped around the ship's waterline, a passive measure against magnetic mines, name in roman and kanji
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Hoyo Maru | depth 36 m
Length: 143 metres
Built: 29 August 1936
Tonnage: 8,691 ts
Rests upside down: T
The wreck is at 75 feet The wreck is dangerous to enter and there is lots of silt inside the ship. The damage the ship received before finally sinking was extensive.
Torpedoed by a US submarine on November 6, 1943.
Don’t miss: Bombs & their fuses, aircraft engines & propeller blades, ship propeller blades, navigation light lens, acid carboys, steam roller
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Kiyosumi Maru | depth 31,5 m
1/700 scale model
Length: 137 metres
Built: 30th of June, 1934
Tonnage: 6,983 ts
Rests on port side: ⊃
[ also known and documented as the Kiyozumi Maru]
This is a large 6 hold freighter converted to an armed merchant raider, fitted with eight 14 or 15cm guns cannibalised from old cruisers (now with out guns). She also carried 2 twin torpedo tubes and AA guns. The Kiyosumi was in Truk undergoing repairs after a submarine attack. She was sunk by multiple bomb hits. The ship lies on its port side, it can be a murky dive.
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Mitsubishi G4M Betty Bomber | depth 15 m
Length: 19.6 metres
Built: 1938
Tonnage: n/a
This Mitsubishi G4M Betty Bomber was shot down or crashed after takeoff from Eten island. The motors sank first and lie about 75 metres closer to shore, than the rest of the wreckage. The Betty is in remarble good shape and can be entered through a hole in the fuselage. You’ll see the remains of a gun and a radio and a portable toilet.
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M/V Sgt. Mjr. W. Pugh | depth 15 m
Length: metres
Built:
Tonnage:
I can’t seem to find any extra information on the Motor vessel Sergeant Major W. Pugh. It lies in 15 metres of water and was sunk at Chuuk after the Second World War.
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Hoki Maru | depth 50 m
Drawing used with permission © Lance Higgs / Thorfinn
Length: 137,25 metres
Built: 28 November 1921
Tonnage: 7,112 ts
Rests on slight list to port side: ⊂
This captured New Zealand vessel (M/V Hauraki) sunk upright with a slight list to port. Except for the bow & forecastle the fore ship was destroyed by an aviation gasoline explosion. The midship & bridge are devastated but contain pockets of interesting artifacts. The aft holds contain an assortment of construction equipment & supplies. Caterpillar tractors, tow tractor, stack bed trucks, dump trucks, steam roller & a motor scraper are on the two levels of #5 hold. Bombs & their fuses, aircraft engines & propeller blades, ship propeller blades, navigation light lens, acid carboys & oil/gasoline drums are in #4. Skin sting/burn has been reported in the bottom of this hold.
Don’t miss: Bombs & their fuses, aircraft engines & propeller blades, ship propeller blades, navigation light lens, acid carboys, steam roller
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Nippo Maru | depth 48 m
Length: 107,5 metres
Built: 16 september 1936
Tonnage: 3,763 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
In 1969, the Nippo Maru was filmed by the Cousteau expedition but not identified. It was then “lost” until rediscovered on 16 June 1980 by Klaus Lindemann. The Nippo lies on a sand bottom in 48 metres of water, lying in an east-west direction with the bow slightly shallower than the stern and having a slight list to port. The wreck is basically intact, with only slight damage to the bridge area and stern visible.
The Nippo Maru was a medium sized freighter, some three hundred and fifty feet long with a fifty-foot beam. She was built by the Kawasaki Dockyard and launched in September 1936. At first she was used as a fruit transporter, shipping bananas from Taiwan to Japan. Then she was converted into a water transport ship and munitions carrier. She would frequently stop at Truk to take on water and then distribute it and any munitions around the garrisons on the smaller coral islands that did not have enough of their own supply.
Whilst on one of these round robins on February 16th 1945 she was bombed and torpedoed and sank in 160 feet of water. She now rests upright with a heavy list to port, and her stern almost buried in a sloping reef. The Nippo Maru is often called the " the million dollar wreck " because her five holds are packed full with ammunition and armaments of all kinds. Hemispherical mines, cannon barrels, gun mounts for shore batteries, machine guns, gas masks, bronze rangefinders and small arms ammunition of all kinds lie scattered all around this wreck. The bridge is almost intact with its ships compass and engine telegraphs. Nearly all the wrecks that we dived had these instuments in their bridges, but it was still such a thrill to see these artefacts still in situ.
Near number 4 hold are three field howitzers still mounted on their wheeled carriages. These are a fantastic sight but the best was yet to come, and it is what the Nippo Maru has become famous for. A tank. That's right a tank just standing on the main deck near number 2 hold at a depth of about 130 feet. This tank is a Type 97. They weigh about seven and a half tons, were powered by 120 horsepower diesel engine, and had a crew of three. The tank is a great sight, and as you drift back up to the dive boat you get to see the whole wreck laid out, but you keep your eye on the tank until it fades from view.
Don’t miss: bridge (one of the nicest in Chuuk), Type 97 light tank and radio sets
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Rio de Janeiro Maru | depth 34 m
Length: 142 metres
Built: May 1930 by Mitsubishi Zosen Kaisha Ltd
Tonnage: 9,626 ts
Rests on starboard side: ⊥
Today, the Rio de Janeiro Maru sits at a maximum depth of about 34 metres, with the ship lying on its starboard side (note that at least one of the books on the Chuuk Lagoon wrecks says it is on its starboard side but then has diagrams showing her on the port side). It is located on the eastern side of Uman Island, perhaps a few hundred metres off the southern most end. As you swim down onto the wreck it is quickly obvious that this is a huge wreck, the fourth biggest in Chuuk Lagoon in terms of tonnage. Dive boats generally anchor on the bridge area or near the bow.
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Shinkoku Maru | depth 39 m
Length: 152 metres
Built: Converted to fleet oiler in 1941
Tonnage: 10,020 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The second largest wreck in Chuuk Lagoon. The Shinkoku Maru was built in 1940 by Kawashi Jyuko Co. of Kobe for Kobe Sanbashi K.K. (Kobe Pier Co. Ltd). It was 150 metres long and 20 metres wide and was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy in 1941, four weeks before Pearl Harbour.
Wreck Description
Sitting upright on the sandy bottom, the Shinkoku is a wreck that can be dived by anyone, its depth ranges from 11 metres on the bridge down to 39 metres near the propeller.
The bow gun is quite impressive and very overgrown with coral. There is loads on assorted debris scattered all over the deck. There is also a large white tiled communal bath inside.
Now lying in relatively shallow water, it is one of the best dives in Chuuk for access and ease of diving. Dive boats generally hook up to the forecastle and as you descend the deck of the wreck is immediately visible.
A short swim forward brings you to the bow gun located at about 15m. The coral growth is amazing on this wreck because of its relative shallowness. The bow gun looks as though someone has draped the growth over it like a table cloth, and it hangs down as if frozen in time. There is a rubber gas mast positioned at the foot of the gun which adds to the overall surrealness.
Swimming aft towards the bridge structure you will pass the holds which are empty. About have way back there are two large anemones absolutely swarming with pink anemone fish. As you pass the forecastle you swim through thousands of Blue Chromis.
Arriving at the bridge you enter the small hatchway. The first thing you notice is the size of the internals and how empty they are. Most of these wrecks had wooden decks which were either burnt when the wreck was bombed, or have since rotted away.
You have to be careful here not to stir up the sediment on floor or else you will be enveloped in a cloud of red silt. There is also a total lack of growth inside the wrecks, because there is no light. The only colour is the redness of rusting steel superstructure when your light beam hits it.
Moving through the bridge structure you see the scattered wreckage of tables, bottles etc and as you approach the exit you stop to look into the bathroom, complete with white porcelain urinals and a large tiled communal bath.
As you exit the superstructure you are again swamped with coral and fish and immediately come across another large anemone complete with its family of Orange-fin Anemone Fish. You continue aft passing through 20m and past the large mast reaching towards the surface, totally encrusted in coral.
After a long swim, passing over heaps of assorted debris scattered on the deck you reach the engine room superstructure and enter the darkness within. Proceeding through the walkways you come to the engine room and stand on the catwalk looking down at the tops of the huge pistons. You swim down for a closer look. There is very little damage here and most of the gauges are still intact displaying their last readings.
You’re now at 30m.
After a few minutes you exit the engine room and continue onto the stern of the ship. Here you find an engine telegraph and pretend to order full steam ahead. YouÕve now swum the entire length of the ship and turn around and make your way back to the forecastle to make your ascent.
The safety stops on the forecastle are possibly the best fish experience in Chuuk Lagoon, with the Sankisan Maru perhaps the only ship better. The shear volume of small fish that inhabit these structures is beyond description. They are literally hypnotizing to sit with. They move with the ebb and flow of the surface waves Ð small as they are Ð and occasionally dart into their hiding holes when they spot something they donÕt like, coming out again soon after to continue their dance.
The hard and soft corals are a rainbow of colours. Being only 5m below the surface the natural light is enough to light them up. You could spend hours closely inspecting each of the corals looking for the small shrimp, crabs, worms etc that inhabit them. All the while schools of batfish circle in mid water keeping a close eye on you.
Don’t miss: three engine telegraphs on the bridge, bowgun, bathroom with urinals and operation room
Dive site drawing courtesy of Aggressor.
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San Francisco Maru | depth 63 m
Length: 116 metres
Built: 1st of march, 1919
Tonnage: 5,831 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
This passenger/cargo ship sunk upright, fully loaded with cargo & thus is often called ‘The Million Dollar Wreck’. Deck cargo includes both trucks & battle tanks. Hold cargo includes mines, torpedoes, bombs, artillery, anti-tank, & small arms munitions, aircraft engines & parts & oil/gasoline drums. Many artifacts remain in the bridge area.
One of San FranciscoÕs highlights are the three Japanese Type-95 Ha-Go light tanks she carried. Two of these still remain on her deck. The Type-95 tank was built by Mitsubishi and was manned by a crew of three. It possessed inch armor weighed in at 7.5 tons and carried one 10 MM main gun and 2-7MM machine guns. It was powered by a six cylinder air cooled diesel engine which could propel the tank up to 30 mph.
Most of the mines are now gone. These have been looted by locals for dynamite fishing.
Don’t miss: light tanks on deck, deck gun
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Shotan Maru | depth 49 m
Length: 87 metres
Built: 1942
Tonnage: 1,999 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
Nowadays the Shotan Maru rests to the east of Eten Island, very close to the San Francisco Maru. She lies in a valley with the bow pointing to a small hill and the stern lower than another large sand hill which is primarily on the starboard side. The bottom of the valley near the wreck is 50 metres and the bow is about 40 metres. The bridge is 37 metres and the bottom of the holds about 47 to 49 metres. The wreck is upright with a slight list to port. It was found in 1980.
Don’t miss: cement bags
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Sutsuki Patrol boat No. 34 | depth 15 m
Length: 85 metres
Built: early 20’s
Tonnage: 935 ts
The Sutsuki was a Momi Class destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the early 1920’s. Originally one of the fastest ships of their period, they were top heavy and could only be used as a second class destroyer or torpedo boat. Although nearly obsolete at the start of the war, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided their speed would be useful in reinforcing their forces at Guadalcanal. Several of the vessels were converted to carry Daihatsu landing craft on the stern.
During the war Sutsuki participated as part of the famed "Tokyo Express" to relieve Japanese forces engaged in the battle for Guadalcanal. During this period she was heavily damaged and later was further damaged in a collision with the target ship Yakaze.
Although records are scarce, Sutsuki appears to have escaped any damage during the "Hailstone" attack. However, she was destroyed by a fire the following July.
Don’t miss: helm and other artifacts on deck
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Unkai Maru No. 6 | depth 38 m
Length: 93 metres
Built: 1905
Tonnage: 3,220 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The Unkai Maru was an old ship when she sunk. She was launched in the UK before WWI as the Venus and purchased by the Japanese who renamed her. The wreck is not too deep and she lies on an even keel. This makes the Unkai Maru a great dive for non-technical divers.
She was sunk by several bomb hits that raised the bow out of the water before sinking.
Dive site drawing courtesy of Aggressor.
The bow section is the most interesting part of the ship with a three inch gun, forecastle with a room containing numerous artefacts. It was found in 1980 by Klaus Lindemann.
Don’t miss: Army equipment including shoes, gas masks, bottles, china, boxes, and debris in Hold 1.
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Yamagiri Maru | depth 34 m
Length: 133 metres
Built: 1938
Tonnage: 6,438 ts
Rests on port side: ⊃
A large combined freighter/passenger liner, the Yamagiri is lying on her port side. The wreck is fairly intact with the superstructure and pilot house interesting and accessible. Hold No. 5 contains 35.6cm (14”) shells for second-line Japanese battleships, a steamroller and construction equipment.
Don’t miss: The eerie skull grown into the ceiling of the engineroom, huge artillery shells
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Yubai Maru | depth 36 m
Length: 93 metres
Built:
Tonnage: 3,217 ts
The Yubai Maru arrived in Chuuk on 10th February 1944 as part of an escorted convoy. She was anchored along the Western shore of Uman Island not far from the South-Eastern tip of Fefan Island on the 16th when planes from the USS Bunker Hill attacked. She was hit by a 1,000lb bomb and at least 1 torpedo and heavy damaged and starting to sink when the aircraft retired.
The ship lies on her port side in 15m of water to the starboard beam and 36m to the bottom. There is a load of plates, rice bowls, cups, saucers and other pieces of china.
This ship is also called the Yubae Maru (different spelling). It can be found at (or very near) 07°31’N, 151°59’E GPS coordinates.
Don’t miss: China and telegraphs.
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The 4 largest wrecks in Chuuk lagoon are:
The 2 most interesting divesites are the San Francisco Maru and the Nippo Maru.
More facts about the wrecks...
Here is a map of the location of the most common wrecks around Chuuk.
Amagisan Maru
Aikoku Maru
Da Na Hino Maru
“Emily” Flying boat
Fujikawa Maru
Fumitsuki
Heian Maru
Hoki Maru
Aikoku Maru
Da Na Hino Maru
“Emily” Flying boat
Fujikawa Maru
Fumitsuki
Heian Maru
Hoki Maru
Amagisan Maru | depth 70 m
Length: 137 metres
Built: 6 November 1933
Tonnage: 7,620 ts
Rests on 45 degree list to port side : /
Oil and aviation fuel dribble from this 454 foot cargo vessel in 200 feet of water. Ship lies with a 45 degree list to the port side. She was attacked by nine planes from Bunker Hill, and was hit by a 1,000 lbs bomb and a solid torpedo hit. She burned and quickly sunk. The No.1 hold contains only a few crushed 55 gallon drums and there is a large car too. There is a 10 foot long aileron (paravane) used for mine sweeping hanging off the port side. There is a large hole from the torpedo hit on the starboard side of the hold. There is a stern gun, and the ship's planking is burned from the fire. The ship's safe was salvaged in recent time, but its contents were not publicized.
Today the Amagisan Maru lies on a gentle slope with the bow in less than 30 metres and the stern in 58 metres. The wreck has a 45 to 50º list to the port and faces back towards the southern end of Uman Island.
This is an interesting wreck, it's only a pity it is in such deep water. There was a fuel tanker truck on the deck when the ship went down. It has slid off the deck and lies on the sand next to the forward hold. The forward masts has fallen over and hit the cabin of the tanker, crushing it.
There is a large bow gun still intact, and the anchor can be see lying out on the sand with the chain running all the way back into the ship. The forward number 1 hold is mainly empty except for a few empty fuel drums. Hold number 2 contains some aircraft wings and more barrels. At the rear of the hold is a car with its cab mostly intact.
Don’t miss: Her most interesting features include a bow gun, “staff cars” in hold No. 2 and a tank truck on the sea floor.
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Aikoku Maru “Swallow Bird” | depth 64 mLength: 150 metres
Built:
Tonnage: 10,437 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The Aikoku Maru is a large combined freighter/passenger liner, resting on an even keel. The holds are empty and the Midship superstructure has collapsed. Penetration of this wreck is strongly discouraged. The first hold aft held troop quarters but has been cleared of the remains. A large anti-aircraft gun is located on top of the aft deckhouse.
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Fujikawa Maru | depth 34 m
Length: 132 metres
Built: 1938
Tonnage: 6,938 ts
Rests on almost even keel: ⊥
The most popular wreck in Truk Lagoon, the Fujikawa Maru is a must dive. This is probably one of the best wreckdives in the world and features in many “Top X” wreckdives list. Whether your interest is in artifacts or marine life this wreck has it. An abundant growth of soft & hard corals, anemones, & crinoids make the ship & particularly the bow & stern guns very photogenic. All the holds contain cargo but a unique attraction lays in hold #2. There you will find five relatively untouched and intact Zero fighters. The engine room is very interesting but requires special diving skills to visit.
Don’t miss: The “famous” robot-looking compressor, Zero planes
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Fumitsuki | depth 40 m
Built: 1925
Tonnage: 1,772 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The Destroyer Fumitsuki (or Fumitzuki) is one of only a couple of 'military' vessels in the lagoon. She was built in 1925 and launched 16th February 1926. She was capable of 37 knots but under fully loaded conditions could reach 33.5 knots.
The Fumitsuki was transferred to Chuuk from Rabaul in 1944 to allows repairs to be completed, since Rabaul was being continually bombed. At the time of the attack on Chuuk she was anchor close to the Hoyo Maru awaiting repairs.
She wasn’t immediately attacked in the first wave and while at anchor she returned fire against the attacking planes. She was targeted around midday by bombers who scored a direct with a single bomb after the Fumitsuki tried evasive manoeuvres, stopping her dead in the water.
Other vessels attempted to tow her to shore but she was taking on too much water and listing. She dropped anchors and eventually sank.
Wreck Description
The Fumitsuki lies in about 38-40m of water with the deck at about 33m, and a small list to port. There is a smallish bow gun with boxes of ammunition to the front and rear. The anchor chains are extending out in front of the ship, however one is broken off.
One of the more impressive features is the torpedo launchers. They hold 3 torpedos and are fired from a swivel mounted launcher. The wreck is a long way off shore out in the lagoon north of Udot Island.
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Da Na Hino Maru | depth 10 mLength: 70 metres
Built: 16 september 1935
Tonnage: 999 ts
The Da Na Hino Maru was attacked by aircraft which bombed, rocketed and strafed her. The force of the explosions has left her totally destroyed from the inside out. Resting on a sloping bottom, the picturesque symbol of Truk Lagoon, now lies on her keel in 30 fsw off Uman Island.
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Kawanishii H8K2 “Emily” Flying boat | depth 16 mLength: 28,1 metres
Built: after August 1941
Weight: 34.000 lb
The wreck of the Kawanishi H8K1 “Emily” flying boat lies upside down at a depth of 16 metres. It was powered by four radial air-cooled engines with four-bladed metal airscrews. It had a wing span of 38 metres and a length of 28 metres. The aircraft was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with large strut-braced wing-tip floats.
The wing is in good shape, but the four engines have fallen to the sea floor. The fuselage (which should be on top of the wing) is in three pieces on the bottom, with bits scattered everywhere. Photographs and specifications of the aircraft show that it is similar in size and appearance to the British Short Sunderland.
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Heian Maru “Swallow Bird” | depth 33 m
Drawing used with permission © Lance Higgs / Thorfinn
Dive site drawing courtesy of Aggressor.
Length: 155 metres
Built: Osaka Iron Works, 19th of June, 1929
Tonnage: 11,616 ts
Rests on leeward side: ⊃
This ship was a passenger and cargo liner, which was converted into a submarine depot ship. Originally, she was a passenger ship designed for luxury service between Yokohama and Seattle.
It is the largest ship in the lagoon and lies in the old submarine anchorage.
Long Lance torpedoes can be found. Periscopes lay in two companionways on levels below & aft of the bridge.Many artifacts can be found throughout this wreck.
The Heian Maru was sunk by a Grumman TBF "Avenger" with a torpedo in the raid on Truk in February 1944.
Don’t miss: An interesting feature is the coils of degaussing cable wrapped around the ship's waterline, a passive measure against magnetic mines, name in roman and kanji
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Hoyo Maru | depth 36 mLength: 143 metres
Built: 29 August 1936
Tonnage: 8,691 ts
Rests upside down: T
The wreck is at 75 feet The wreck is dangerous to enter and there is lots of silt inside the ship. The damage the ship received before finally sinking was extensive.
Torpedoed by a US submarine on November 6, 1943.
Don’t miss: Bombs & their fuses, aircraft engines & propeller blades, ship propeller blades, navigation light lens, acid carboys, steam roller
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Kiyosumi Maru | depth 31,5 m1/700 scale model
Length: 137 metres
Built: 30th of June, 1934
Tonnage: 6,983 ts
Rests on port side: ⊃
[ also known and documented as the Kiyozumi Maru]
This is a large 6 hold freighter converted to an armed merchant raider, fitted with eight 14 or 15cm guns cannibalised from old cruisers (now with out guns). She also carried 2 twin torpedo tubes and AA guns. The Kiyosumi was in Truk undergoing repairs after a submarine attack. She was sunk by multiple bomb hits. The ship lies on its port side, it can be a murky dive.
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Mitsubishi G4M Betty Bomber | depth 15 mLength: 19.6 metres
Built: 1938
Tonnage: n/a
This Mitsubishi G4M Betty Bomber was shot down or crashed after takeoff from Eten island. The motors sank first and lie about 75 metres closer to shore, than the rest of the wreckage. The Betty is in remarble good shape and can be entered through a hole in the fuselage. You’ll see the remains of a gun and a radio and a portable toilet.
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M/V Sgt. Mjr. W. Pugh | depth 15 mLength: metres
Built:
Tonnage:
I can’t seem to find any extra information on the Motor vessel Sergeant Major W. Pugh. It lies in 15 metres of water and was sunk at Chuuk after the Second World War.
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Hoki Maru | depth 50 m
Drawing used with permission © Lance Higgs / Thorfinn
Length: 137,25 metres
Built: 28 November 1921
Tonnage: 7,112 ts
Rests on slight list to port side: ⊂
This captured New Zealand vessel (M/V Hauraki) sunk upright with a slight list to port. Except for the bow & forecastle the fore ship was destroyed by an aviation gasoline explosion. The midship & bridge are devastated but contain pockets of interesting artifacts. The aft holds contain an assortment of construction equipment & supplies. Caterpillar tractors, tow tractor, stack bed trucks, dump trucks, steam roller & a motor scraper are on the two levels of #5 hold. Bombs & their fuses, aircraft engines & propeller blades, ship propeller blades, navigation light lens, acid carboys & oil/gasoline drums are in #4. Skin sting/burn has been reported in the bottom of this hold.
Don’t miss: Bombs & their fuses, aircraft engines & propeller blades, ship propeller blades, navigation light lens, acid carboys, steam roller
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Nippo Maru | depth 48 mLength: 107,5 metres
Built: 16 september 1936
Tonnage: 3,763 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
In 1969, the Nippo Maru was filmed by the Cousteau expedition but not identified. It was then “lost” until rediscovered on 16 June 1980 by Klaus Lindemann. The Nippo lies on a sand bottom in 48 metres of water, lying in an east-west direction with the bow slightly shallower than the stern and having a slight list to port. The wreck is basically intact, with only slight damage to the bridge area and stern visible.
The Nippo Maru was a medium sized freighter, some three hundred and fifty feet long with a fifty-foot beam. She was built by the Kawasaki Dockyard and launched in September 1936. At first she was used as a fruit transporter, shipping bananas from Taiwan to Japan. Then she was converted into a water transport ship and munitions carrier. She would frequently stop at Truk to take on water and then distribute it and any munitions around the garrisons on the smaller coral islands that did not have enough of their own supply.
Whilst on one of these round robins on February 16th 1945 she was bombed and torpedoed and sank in 160 feet of water. She now rests upright with a heavy list to port, and her stern almost buried in a sloping reef. The Nippo Maru is often called the " the million dollar wreck " because her five holds are packed full with ammunition and armaments of all kinds. Hemispherical mines, cannon barrels, gun mounts for shore batteries, machine guns, gas masks, bronze rangefinders and small arms ammunition of all kinds lie scattered all around this wreck. The bridge is almost intact with its ships compass and engine telegraphs. Nearly all the wrecks that we dived had these instuments in their bridges, but it was still such a thrill to see these artefacts still in situ.
Near number 4 hold are three field howitzers still mounted on their wheeled carriages. These are a fantastic sight but the best was yet to come, and it is what the Nippo Maru has become famous for. A tank. That's right a tank just standing on the main deck near number 2 hold at a depth of about 130 feet. This tank is a Type 97. They weigh about seven and a half tons, were powered by 120 horsepower diesel engine, and had a crew of three. The tank is a great sight, and as you drift back up to the dive boat you get to see the whole wreck laid out, but you keep your eye on the tank until it fades from view.
Don’t miss: bridge (one of the nicest in Chuuk), Type 97 light tank and radio sets
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Rio de Janeiro Maru | depth 34 mLength: 142 metres
Built: May 1930 by Mitsubishi Zosen Kaisha Ltd
Tonnage: 9,626 ts
Rests on starboard side: ⊥
Today, the Rio de Janeiro Maru sits at a maximum depth of about 34 metres, with the ship lying on its starboard side (note that at least one of the books on the Chuuk Lagoon wrecks says it is on its starboard side but then has diagrams showing her on the port side). It is located on the eastern side of Uman Island, perhaps a few hundred metres off the southern most end. As you swim down onto the wreck it is quickly obvious that this is a huge wreck, the fourth biggest in Chuuk Lagoon in terms of tonnage. Dive boats generally anchor on the bridge area or near the bow.
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Shinkoku Maru | depth 39 m
Length: 152 metres
Built: Converted to fleet oiler in 1941
Tonnage: 10,020 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The second largest wreck in Chuuk Lagoon. The Shinkoku Maru was built in 1940 by Kawashi Jyuko Co. of Kobe for Kobe Sanbashi K.K. (Kobe Pier Co. Ltd). It was 150 metres long and 20 metres wide and was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy in 1941, four weeks before Pearl Harbour.
Wreck Description
Sitting upright on the sandy bottom, the Shinkoku is a wreck that can be dived by anyone, its depth ranges from 11 metres on the bridge down to 39 metres near the propeller.
The bow gun is quite impressive and very overgrown with coral. There is loads on assorted debris scattered all over the deck. There is also a large white tiled communal bath inside.
Now lying in relatively shallow water, it is one of the best dives in Chuuk for access and ease of diving. Dive boats generally hook up to the forecastle and as you descend the deck of the wreck is immediately visible.
A short swim forward brings you to the bow gun located at about 15m. The coral growth is amazing on this wreck because of its relative shallowness. The bow gun looks as though someone has draped the growth over it like a table cloth, and it hangs down as if frozen in time. There is a rubber gas mast positioned at the foot of the gun which adds to the overall surrealness.
Swimming aft towards the bridge structure you will pass the holds which are empty. About have way back there are two large anemones absolutely swarming with pink anemone fish. As you pass the forecastle you swim through thousands of Blue Chromis.
Arriving at the bridge you enter the small hatchway. The first thing you notice is the size of the internals and how empty they are. Most of these wrecks had wooden decks which were either burnt when the wreck was bombed, or have since rotted away.
You have to be careful here not to stir up the sediment on floor or else you will be enveloped in a cloud of red silt. There is also a total lack of growth inside the wrecks, because there is no light. The only colour is the redness of rusting steel superstructure when your light beam hits it.
Moving through the bridge structure you see the scattered wreckage of tables, bottles etc and as you approach the exit you stop to look into the bathroom, complete with white porcelain urinals and a large tiled communal bath.
As you exit the superstructure you are again swamped with coral and fish and immediately come across another large anemone complete with its family of Orange-fin Anemone Fish. You continue aft passing through 20m and past the large mast reaching towards the surface, totally encrusted in coral.
After a long swim, passing over heaps of assorted debris scattered on the deck you reach the engine room superstructure and enter the darkness within. Proceeding through the walkways you come to the engine room and stand on the catwalk looking down at the tops of the huge pistons. You swim down for a closer look. There is very little damage here and most of the gauges are still intact displaying their last readings.
You’re now at 30m.
After a few minutes you exit the engine room and continue onto the stern of the ship. Here you find an engine telegraph and pretend to order full steam ahead. YouÕve now swum the entire length of the ship and turn around and make your way back to the forecastle to make your ascent.
The safety stops on the forecastle are possibly the best fish experience in Chuuk Lagoon, with the Sankisan Maru perhaps the only ship better. The shear volume of small fish that inhabit these structures is beyond description. They are literally hypnotizing to sit with. They move with the ebb and flow of the surface waves Ð small as they are Ð and occasionally dart into their hiding holes when they spot something they donÕt like, coming out again soon after to continue their dance.
The hard and soft corals are a rainbow of colours. Being only 5m below the surface the natural light is enough to light them up. You could spend hours closely inspecting each of the corals looking for the small shrimp, crabs, worms etc that inhabit them. All the while schools of batfish circle in mid water keeping a close eye on you.
Don’t miss: three engine telegraphs on the bridge, bowgun, bathroom with urinals and operation room
Dive site drawing courtesy of Aggressor.
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San Francisco Maru | depth 63 m
Length: 116 metres
Built: 1st of march, 1919
Tonnage: 5,831 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
This passenger/cargo ship sunk upright, fully loaded with cargo & thus is often called ‘The Million Dollar Wreck’. Deck cargo includes both trucks & battle tanks. Hold cargo includes mines, torpedoes, bombs, artillery, anti-tank, & small arms munitions, aircraft engines & parts & oil/gasoline drums. Many artifacts remain in the bridge area.
One of San FranciscoÕs highlights are the three Japanese Type-95 Ha-Go light tanks she carried. Two of these still remain on her deck. The Type-95 tank was built by Mitsubishi and was manned by a crew of three. It possessed inch armor weighed in at 7.5 tons and carried one 10 MM main gun and 2-7MM machine guns. It was powered by a six cylinder air cooled diesel engine which could propel the tank up to 30 mph.
Most of the mines are now gone. These have been looted by locals for dynamite fishing.
Don’t miss: light tanks on deck, deck gun
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Shotan Maru | depth 49 m
Length: 87 metres
Built: 1942
Tonnage: 1,999 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
Nowadays the Shotan Maru rests to the east of Eten Island, very close to the San Francisco Maru. She lies in a valley with the bow pointing to a small hill and the stern lower than another large sand hill which is primarily on the starboard side. The bottom of the valley near the wreck is 50 metres and the bow is about 40 metres. The bridge is 37 metres and the bottom of the holds about 47 to 49 metres. The wreck is upright with a slight list to port. It was found in 1980.
Don’t miss: cement bags
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Sutsuki Patrol boat No. 34 | depth 15 m
Length: 85 metres
Built: early 20’s
Tonnage: 935 ts
The Sutsuki was a Momi Class destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the early 1920’s. Originally one of the fastest ships of their period, they were top heavy and could only be used as a second class destroyer or torpedo boat. Although nearly obsolete at the start of the war, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided their speed would be useful in reinforcing their forces at Guadalcanal. Several of the vessels were converted to carry Daihatsu landing craft on the stern.
During the war Sutsuki participated as part of the famed "Tokyo Express" to relieve Japanese forces engaged in the battle for Guadalcanal. During this period she was heavily damaged and later was further damaged in a collision with the target ship Yakaze.
Although records are scarce, Sutsuki appears to have escaped any damage during the "Hailstone" attack. However, she was destroyed by a fire the following July.
Don’t miss: helm and other artifacts on deck
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Unkai Maru No. 6 | depth 38 m
Length: 93 metres
Built: 1905
Tonnage: 3,220 ts
Rests on even keel: ⊥
The Unkai Maru was an old ship when she sunk. She was launched in the UK before WWI as the Venus and purchased by the Japanese who renamed her. The wreck is not too deep and she lies on an even keel. This makes the Unkai Maru a great dive for non-technical divers.
She was sunk by several bomb hits that raised the bow out of the water before sinking.
Dive site drawing courtesy of Aggressor.
The bow section is the most interesting part of the ship with a three inch gun, forecastle with a room containing numerous artefacts. It was found in 1980 by Klaus Lindemann.
Don’t miss: Army equipment including shoes, gas masks, bottles, china, boxes, and debris in Hold 1.
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Yamagiri Maru | depth 34 mLength: 133 metres
Built: 1938
Tonnage: 6,438 ts
Rests on port side: ⊃
A large combined freighter/passenger liner, the Yamagiri is lying on her port side. The wreck is fairly intact with the superstructure and pilot house interesting and accessible. Hold No. 5 contains 35.6cm (14”) shells for second-line Japanese battleships, a steamroller and construction equipment.
Don’t miss: The eerie skull grown into the ceiling of the engineroom, huge artillery shells
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Yubai Maru | depth 36 mLength: 93 metres
Built:
Tonnage: 3,217 ts
The Yubai Maru arrived in Chuuk on 10th February 1944 as part of an escorted convoy. She was anchored along the Western shore of Uman Island not far from the South-Eastern tip of Fefan Island on the 16th when planes from the USS Bunker Hill attacked. She was hit by a 1,000lb bomb and at least 1 torpedo and heavy damaged and starting to sink when the aircraft retired.
The ship lies on her port side in 15m of water to the starboard beam and 36m to the bottom. There is a load of plates, rice bowls, cups, saucers and other pieces of china.
This ship is also called the Yubae Maru (different spelling). It can be found at (or very near) 07°31’N, 151°59’E GPS coordinates.
Don’t miss: China and telegraphs.
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The 4 largest wrecks in Chuuk lagoon are:
- Heian Maru - 11.614 tonnes
- Aikoku Maru - 10.437 tonnes
- Shinkoku Maru - 10.020 tonnes
- Rio de Janeiro Maru - 9.626 tonnes