wreck

Log This Dive

Shinkoku Maru

The Shinkoku Maru is a beast of a wreck, a tanker that really shows you the sheer scale of Operation Hailstone. We love that it’s relatively shallow on the deck, so you get plenty of bottom time to explore the superstructure and its coral growth. Head down into the engine room, and you’ll find the engine telegraph still there, a real chill down your spine moment. Our favourite spot has to be the operating room with the ceramic basins and surgical tools still laid out – it’s incredibly poignant. Outside, the growth of staghorn corals is impressive, drawing in schools of blue-lined tangs and parrotfish. You'll often see gray reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections. This wreck is perfect for divers who want to spend time exploring interior spaces and appreciate the way history and nature have merged. It’s a photographer’s dream, too, with endless compositions around every corner.