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Japanese Cargo Wreck

The Japanese Cargo Wreck in Sulawesi feels like you’re stepping into an underwater museum. It’s not one of those meticulously preserved wrecks, but a proper, broken-up vessel, scattered across a gentle slope. We love how the individual pieces – a boiler here, a prop shaft there – tell a story of its final moments. Cruising along, you'll spot schools of fusiliers darting through the skeletal remains, and we’ve often seen reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections. Our favourite part is navigating the twisted metal beams, where you often find scorpionfish perfectly camouflaged. We'd suggest going early in the morning; the light filtering through the shallower sections really brings out the colours of the sponges and soft corals that have colonised the wreck. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of exploring, rather than just admiring an intact vessel. Just watch out for the occasional surge, which can make sticking close to the wreck a bit of a dance.