HIJMS Nagato (Wreck) - Bikini Atoll
The HIJMS Nagato is one of those wrecks that just… demands respect. We love it for its sheer scale, a colossal battleship lying upside down in 51 metres of water. Dropping down, you start to make out the ghostly outline, the immense bulk slowly resolving from the gloom. It’s an intermediate dive, sure, but really, this is for divers who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of depth. Our favourite part is exploring the bridge structure, now completely inverted. It feels surreal, swimming through these upside-down compartments, imagining the chaos of Operation Crossroads. Visibility here is usually good, often 20 metres or more, which helps when you're navigating such a large structure. Keep an eye out for the resident grey reef sharks patrolling the deck guns and the schools of fusiliers that dart through the openings. The Nagato offers a profoundly humbling experience, a silent monument to a bygone era, now a thriving artificial reef.
- Location
- Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 11.598800, 165.511200
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 51m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Bikini
Best Time to Dive in Bikini Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Bikini Atoll occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.7°C (air: 26.9°C)
- February: 27.7°C (air: 26.7°C)
- March: 27.7°C (air: 26.9°C)
- April: 27.7°C (air: 27.1°C)
- May: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
- June: 27.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- July: 27.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- August: 27.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 27.7°C (air: 28.0°C)
- October: 27.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 27.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- December: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Bikini Atoll
- Bikini Atoll
- HIJMS Nagato - 35-55m (wreck)
- USS Pilotfish - 30-45m (wreck)
- USS Saratoga - 15-55m (wreck)
- USS Saratoga Wreck - 45m (wreck)
Marine Life in Bikini Atoll
Home to 268 recorded species including 190 reef fish, 65 hard corals, 3 clams & mussels, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sharks & rays, 1 jellyfish.
Notable Species
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Silver Squirrelfish (Sargocentron microstoma) - Reef Fish
- Three-spot wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Belted wrasse (Stethojulis balteata) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Hexagon Grouper (Epinephelus hexagonatus) - Reef Fish
- Bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius) - Reef Fish
- Ghost Cardinalfish (Nectamia fusca) - Reef Fish
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
- Pearl-spotted wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) - Reef Fish
- Floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Peppered Squirrelfish (Sargocentron punctatissimum) - Reef Fish
- Four-saddle Grouper (Epinephelus spilotoceps) - Reef Fish
- Banded Fringe Blenny (Cirripectes variolosus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for HIJMS Nagato (Wreck)
Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories