Cross Hole - Ishigaki & Yaeyama

Cross Hole isn't just a wreck; it's a history lesson playing out in real time under the waves. We’re talking about a WWII cargo ship, well broken up now, but with enough structure left to make for a fantastic exploration. The stern section is our favourite part, with that big propeller still very much intact, often draped in schools of cardinalfish. We love squeezing through the cargo holds, where the light filters down in shafts, illuminating thick clusters of soft corals and anemones that have completely taken over. As you fin around the deck, keep an eye out for the resident moray eels peeking from crevices and the occasional turtle munching on algae. Visibility here can vary, but on a good day, the light show inside the holds is genuinely mesmerising. It’s an intermediate dive, straightforward enough for competent open water divers comfortable with depth, but still offering plenty of nooks and crannies to satisfy the more experienced wreck enthusiast. We’d suggest going in the morning; the sun angle really makes the internal light beams pop.

Location

Ishigaki & Yaeyama, Japan, East Asia

Coordinates

24.862000, 125.152000

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

24m

Difficulty

Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: 伊良部