YAMAGIRI MARU - Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

The Yamagiri Maru, a sizeable freighter, gives you a proper taste of Truk Lagoon. At 30 metres, it’s a dive that needs careful bottom time management, but the rewards are there. We love the forward holds, particularly Hold Number 5, with those massive 14-inch artillery shells scattered about. It’s an eerie feeling, seeing those huge projectiles resting silently, now covered in a fine layer of silt and soft corals. Moving aft, the engine room is accessible, a tight squeeze sometimes, but definitely worth the effort to see the machinery frozen in time. Around the superstructure, we often find schools of fusiliers swirling, and the occasional grey reef shark cruises by in the blue. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs tucked into the crevices on the deck plating. The sheer scale of the Yamagiri, at 134 metres long, means you’ll want to do this one more than once to really take it all in. Our pick for a second dive? Focus on the bow section, the anchor chains are impressive, and the mast provides a great ascent line.

Location: Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon, Micronesia, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates: 7.385556, 151.820830
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 30m

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 YAMAGIRI 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 YAMAGIRI 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