Sanko Maru - Kimbe Bay
We’ve always had a soft spot for the Sanko Maru. This Japanese freighter, sunk during WWII, now sits upright in New Hanover. Drop down and you’re immediately enveloped by schools of barracuda and trevally circling the mast, often so thick you have to fin through them. The holds are open, allowing easy penetration for those with the right training, revealing old sake bottles and machinery overgrown with sponges. It’s a comfortable wreck dive, making it a great option for divers looking to explore history without excessive challenge, and a fantastic macro hunt if you take your time.
- Location
- Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -5.500000, 150.100000
Best Time to Dive in Kimbe Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Kimbe Bay occur in January, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- February: 30.9°C (air: 25.7°C)
- March: 30.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- April: 30.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- May: 30.9°C (air: 26.3°C)
- June: 30.9°C (air: 26.1°C)
- July: 30.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
- August: 30.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
- September: 30.9°C (air: 26.5°C)
- October: 30.9°C (air: 26.3°C)
- November: 30.9°C (air: 26.2°C)
- December: 30.9°C (air: 26.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Kimbe Bay
- Agu Reef (reef)
- Albatross Muck (muck)
- Big Bank
- Bradford & Inglis Shoals
- Bradford Shoals
- Christine’s Reef (reef)
- Fathers reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Fathers Reefs - 5-30m
- Grabo Reef (reef)
- Heckford Bank
- Inglis Shoals
- Josie’s Reef - 10-30m (reef)
- Kimbe Bay (reef)
- Kimbe Island Bommie (reef)
- Mowen Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Sanko Maru
Marine Life in Kimbe Bay
Home to 375 recorded species including 317 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Staghorn coral (Acropora millepora) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora jacquelineae) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora longicyathus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora plumosa) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora selago) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
- Branch coral (Acropora florida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora echinata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cerealis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora caroliniana) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Sanko Maru
Based on average water temperature of 30.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 31°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