wreck

Log This Dive

KYOWA MARU

The Kyowa Maru, right off Sipadan, offers a wreck dive that feels more like an archaeological expedition than a typical reef plunge. We love how accessible it is, sitting in just 2m of water. It’s a shallow dive, yes, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a simple one. This Japanese cargo ship, sunk during WWII, is a twisted metal skeleton, half-submerged, with its bow pointing out of the water at low tide. You can spend ages here, weaving through the mangled superstructure. Sunlight pierces the surface, dappling the rusty steel, making shadows dance with the surge. We always tell people to bring a torch, not just for looking into the darker corners, but to properly illuminate the colours on the metal. Over the decades, sponges and corals have started to colonise the wreck, and you’ll find plenty of gobies and blennies peeking out from every crevice. Our favourite spot is usually around the stern, where the resident batfish school hangs out, unbothered by divers. It’s a great site for photographers who enjoy playing with light and shadow, or anyone who appreciates the history written in a wreck’s decay.