KANAZONO MARU - Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

Okay, the *Kanazono Maru*. Let's be straight, this isn't a WWII wreck. She ran aground in '68, a much newer vessel, which means she’s not encrusted in the same way the Operation Hailstone wrecks are. Still, we love her for a different reason: the sheer scale of the break-up. She’s completely dismembered across the reef in fairly shallow water, offering a fantastic opportunity to really grasp the forces at play when a ship meets its end. The stern lies upright in the sand, while the bow is a crumpled mess, spilling cargo and twisted metal plates everywhere. You’ll find massive pieces of hull plating, the huge propeller shaft, and even sections of the engine room machinery scattered over a wide area. What’s really cool is how the hard corals have taken hold on the more stable sections. Look for large plate corals covering bulkheads, and schools of fusiliers darting between the mangled steel. It’s an easy, relaxed dive, perfect for photographers wanting to capture both marine life and the raw power of the ocean’s destructive force. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light penetration through the shallow water is beautiful.

Location: Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon, Micronesia, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates: 8.587500, 151.359160
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 0m

Best Time to Dive in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

The warmest water temperatures in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon occur in January, averaging 28.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 28.9°C (air: 27.8°C)
February: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
March: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
April: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
May: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
June: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
July: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
August: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
September: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
October: 28.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
November: 28.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
December: 28.9°C (air: 27.9°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to KANAZONO MARU

Marine Life in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

Home to 213 recorded species including 133 reef fish, 36 hard corals, 17 sea cucumbers, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 sharks & rays, 4 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
Long-nosed Parrotfish (Hipposcarus longiceps) - Reef Fish
Blunt-head Parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos) - Reef Fish
Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Saddled Parrotfish (Scarus dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
Schlegel's Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) - Reef Fish
Roundhead Parrotfish (Scarus globiceps) - Reef Fish
Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
Blackspotted Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei) - Sea Cucumbers
Batavian Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Reef Fish
Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
Sea chub (Kyphosus cinerascens) - Reef Fish
Foxface (Siganus vulpinus) - Reef Fish
Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
Unicornfish (Naso annulatus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for KANAZONO MARU

Based on average water temperature of 28.9°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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