wreck

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HATSUTAKA (POSSIBLY)

Diving the Hatsutaka in Redang isn’t about ticking off a species list. It’s about history, cold steel, and the sheer scale of the thing. We love a good wreck, and this Japanese minelayer, sunk by a US submarine, delivers on the drama. You drop onto the deck at around 27 meters, and the sheer length of it – almost 100 meters – is immediately apparent. The structure is largely intact, with various compartments and holds you can fin past, imagining the crew on board back in 1944. There’s a real somber quiet to this dive, especially when you consider the 200-plus souls who went down with it. That said, life has thoroughly reclaimed the Hatsutaka. Look for the schooling fusiliers that swirl around the mast, often so thick they dim the ambient light. We’ve seen plenty of groupers tucked into the shadowed sections, and the occasional turtle glides by, seemingly unfazed by the wreck’s past. This is a dive for the more experienced, those comfortable with deeper profiles and interested in exploring a significant piece of wartime history, rather than just a quick look at corals. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat any potential crowds and to get the best visibility before the day heats up.