Tag Archives: World War II

Ghost Fleet Wreck Dives in Truk Lagoon

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The Ghost Fleet wreck dives in Truk Lagoon (now called Chuuk Atoll) represents a historic military milestone in World War II. The site is prominent in U.S. and Japanese history. On February 16-17, 1944, U.S. Operation Hailstone sunk over 50 Japanese vessels to resting places at the bottom of Truk Lagoon. These vessels are popular with scuba divers, underwater photographers and history buffs. Ghost Fleet Wreck Dives in Truk Lagoon Shinkoku Maru Heian Maru Nippo Maru Sutsuki Destroyer San Francisco Maru Hoki Maru Fujikawa Maru Yamagiri Maru Sankisan Maru Over time, the sunken vessels transformed into amazing coral reefs that attract a plethora of vibrant sea life. Decks, bows, sterns, Continue reading →

Hoki Maru Wreck Dive

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The Imperial Japanese Navy’s Hoki Maru is another member of the Ghost Fleet in Truk Lagoon (now named Chuuk). She was a transport ship during World War II. The Hoki Maru was built in Scotland in 1921 and christened the British-New Zealand ship M/V Hauraki. The Japanese captured the Hauraki in December 1941 and renamed her Hoki Maru. Tonnage: 7,112 ts gross Length: 450 feet (137 meters) Breadth: 58 feet (18 meters) Draught: 31 feet (9.5 meters) Engine: 2x Diesel, 8-cylinder, 4-stroke, 26.5″ diameter Horsepower: 3550 hp Speed: 12.6 knots Builder: Wm. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton, Scotland, 1921 The bottom of the Hoki Maru rests Continue reading →

Yamagiri Maru Wreck Dive

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Yamagiri Maru is one of the more interesting wreck dives in the WWII Japanese Ghost Fleet resting in Chuuk Lagoon (Truk). Like most of the wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, dive experience is recommended. Today the wreck lies on its port side at 112 feet (34 meters). The starboard hull is about 50 feet (15 meters) and the bow is a bit deeper. Given the lean of the wreck, diver navigation skills help maintain perspective. Displacement: 6,439 tons Length: 436 feet (132 meters) Beam: 58  feet (17.6 meters) Engine: 1 MAN diesel Max Speed: 17 knots Divers can enter this wreck through a torpedo hole, Continue reading →

Sankisan Maru Wreck Dive

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Sankisan Maru, though quite damaged, is one of the more popular WWII wreck dives in Chuuk Lagoon (Truk). She boasts abundant and colorful coral gardens and varied reef creatures. The Sankisan Maru is a great dive for air and technical divers and also makes an fascinating night dive. The average visibility is 65 ft (10-20 m). Access to the dive site is by dive boat or liveaboard. The Sankisan Maru is not a deep dive site; it ranges between 50-80 feet (17 -25 m) deep. The wreck’s location in the lagoon protects it from bad weather. The masts are covered in soft corals that hang over Continue reading →

Nippo Maru Wreck Dive

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The Nippo Maru is one more wreck dive of the Imperial Japanese Navy Ghost Fleet. An entire fleet lies at the bottom of Truk Lagoon (now named Chuuk). The Nippo Maru was a freighter discovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1969 and later identified. She rests upright with a 25-degree port list. She lies deeper than other wrecks. This wreck is for experienced scuba divers only. Location: Near Tonoas, Truk Lagoon Description: 3,764 ton bulk freighter Length: 353 ft (106 m) Depth: Max depth 165 ft (50 m), 130 ft (40 m) to deck, 100 ft (30 m) to top of wreck Visibility: 100 Continue reading →

Heian Maru Wreck Dive

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The Heian Maru is a sister ship in the Japanese Navy’s Ghost Fleet of World War II. It lies between Weno and Tonoas in Chuuk Lagoon (Truk.) The Heian Maru was originally a passenger/cargo luxury line that was converted to submarine tender. The top of the wreck lies at 40 feet (12 m), and the maximum depth is 120 feet (36 m). Visibility is about 65 feet (20 m). Like the other wrecks in this fleet, the outside of the Heian Maru is suitable for all levels of divers, beginner to advanced. Ammunition, guns, torpedo and submarine parts are among the scattered debris.Brilliantly colored living Continue reading →

Shinkoku Maru Wreck Dive

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The Shinkoku Maru is a member of the Ghost Fleet that rests upright at the bottom of Truk Lagoon (now named Chuuk) in the Federated States of Micronesia. This Imperial Japanese Navy tanker’s name means Nation of God. The vast array of relics and artifacts still preserved on the tanker are testament to the unique history of the Micronesian Islands. The Shinkoku Maru offers magnificent undersea life contrasted with shocking maritime war history. Tonnage: 10,020 gross Length: 499 ft (152.4 m) Breadth: 65 ft (19.8 m) Engine: 1 xMAN Diesel Horsepower: 11,565 Speed: 19.8knots The Shinkoku Maru has the most impressive bow guns of all the Truk Continue reading →

Fujikawa Maru Wreck Dive

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Fujikawa Maru may be the most famous wreck in Truk because she sits upright between Eten & Uman islands in water shallow enough for her stern mast to poke out of the water. The wreck is large and full of artifacts, so more than one dive is recommended. At the bow is a massive gun and anchor chains. Soft and hard corals hang from the hawsers. One of the three holds contain aircraft parts including Zero fighter engines & propeller blades, tail sections, machine guns, shells, wings and wing mounted fuel storage tanks. A second hold contains entire Zero fighters in sections. Fuel drums are scattered among Continue reading →

WWII Wrecks of Truk Lagoon – Chuuk

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Truk Lagoon, now known as Chuuk Atoll, is known for the greatest density of wreck diving in the world. The WWII wrecks of Truk Lagoon offer an underwater museum of military artifacts. Truk/Chuuk is ideal for all levels of scuba divers from beginner to technical. Divers can reach the wrecks by water from liveaboards or by land from charter boats. The main island in Weno provides a decompression chamber. WWII Wrecks of Truk Lagoon Out of dozens of lagoon wrecks, these are some of the top rated dive sites: Fujikawa Maru Shinkoku Maru Sankisan Maru Yamagiri Maru Sutsuki Maru Heian Maru Nippo Continue reading →