wreck

Log This Dive

HIYORE MARU

The Hiyore Maru, a steamship sunk by the USS Hammerhead in 1944, gives Sipadan a taste of history. Lying at 38 metres, it’s a dive for those comfortable with depth and a bit of current, which often whips through here. We love dropping down to see the bow emerging from the blue, a ghostly shape against the deeper water. The wreck itself is a playground of steel and history. We’ve finned past the mast, now a vertical garden of soft corals, and peered into dark holds where the light barely penetrates. Inside, you might spot some resident lionfish lurking, or a grumpy stonefish blending perfectly with the encrusted metal. Outside, schools of fusiliers often swirl around the superstructure, a silver current against the grey wreck. It’s not a penetration dive for the casual diver, but there's plenty to explore from the outside. Our favourite part is lingering over the stern, imagining the chaos that sent her down, while parrotfish munch casually on the coral-covered deck. It’s a powerful, atmospheric dive, very different from Sipadan’s famous reef walls.