Iro Maru Wreck Palau - Rock Islands

The Iro Maru is one of those wrecks we always make time for when we're in Palau, especially if we have newer divers in the group. It’s a 143-meter oiler, sunk during Operation Hailstone in 1944, sitting upright on the seabed at a comfortable 27 meters. What we really love about the Iro is its sheer accessibility and how much there is to poke around in without needing advanced certs. You can swim through the superstructure, peer into the engine room, and even pop down into the cargo holds if you're comfortable. Light filters in through bomb damage and open hatches, illuminating schools of glassfish that swirl like silver clouds. We've seen moray eels peeking from pipes, schools of batfish circling the mast, and robust lionfish perched regally on decks. It’s an almost perfect introduction to wreck diving, with plenty of intact structure to explore and a fascinating history you can practically feel. The bow gun is always a highlight, a really stark reminder of its past. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light penetration can be magic.

Location
Rock Islands, Palau, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
7.294800, 134.421200
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
27m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Koror Southern Lagoon

Best Time to Dive in Rock Islands

The warmest water temperatures in Rock Islands occur in October, averaging 30.0°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 28.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.8°C
  • February: 28.4°C
  • March: 28.8°C
  • April: 29.3°C
  • May: 29.8°C
  • June: 29.9°C
  • July: 29.8°C
  • August: 29.7°C
  • September: 29.9°C
  • October: 30.0°C
  • November: 29.9°C
  • December: 29.6°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Rock Islands

Nearest Dive Centres to Iro Maru Wreck Palau

Marine Life in Rock Islands

Home to 198 recorded species including 171 reef fish, 15 sea cucumbers, 4 clams & mussels, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 starfish, 1 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Iro Maru Wreck Palau

Based on average water temperature of 29.5°C, currents 13 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°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