wreck

Log This Dive

HIGANE MARU (POSSIBLY)

The Higane Maru, or what we strongly suspect is her, rests at a respectful 38 metres off Sipadan. It’s a proper historical wreck, a Japanese steamship from WWII, torpedoed by the USS Hammerhead. You won’t find pristine, intact structures here; it’s a dangerous wreck, yes, but that’s part of its allure. The stern section is the most recognisable, with the propeller still visible, often cloaked in schooling fusiliers. Dropping down, the sheer size of the hull emerges from the blue, draped in soft corals. We’ve found giant trevally often patrol the deeper parts, eyeing the schools of snapper that call the holds home. Inside, if you’re careful and properly trained for penetration, there are glimpses of what remains – a boiler, some pipework, all now encrusted and colonised. Visibility can be epic here, 20 metres plus, making the descent a genuine journey back in time. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and don’t mind a bit of a current. Don’t expect a gentle drift; this site usually requires a good fin and solid buoyancy. Our favourite way to dive it is early morning, before the crowds, when the light hits the upper decks just right.