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Log This Dive

Tama Maru (Japanese Minesweeper)

The Tama Maru, an old Japanese trawler repurposed as a minesweeper, sits upright in Iron Bottom Sound. At a maximum depth of 22 metres, she’s a comfortable dive, perfect for those newer to wrecks but still wanting a real piece of history. We’ve found her decks relatively intact, with the stern particularly good for poking around. Keep an eye out for the big schools of fusiliers that hang around the bow, sometimes so thick they blot out the sun for a moment. What we really love here is the combination of easy access and the sheer volume of life. You’ll weave through the old superstructure, where brown sandfish often hide, and spot giant trevally patrolling the perimeter. Our favourite time to dive is mid-morning, just as the light starts to filter down, illuminating the colourful parrotfish picking at the hull. Visibility often hits 20 metres, making it easy to appreciate the scale of the wreck without feeling rushed. It’s an honest, rewarding dive, a true snapshot of the Solomons.