wreck

Log This Dive

Irako

Irako is our favourite wreck in Apo Reef, hands down. Forget the drift dives; this is where you spend your bottom time. This refrigerated Japanese freighter, a formidable 140 metres long, sits upright, mostly intact, from 30 to 43 metres. It’s a deep dive, yes, but the rewards are considerable. We love dropping down, seeing the dark outline resolve into the ship’s structure, often through schools of big-eye trevally that swirl like a silver curtain around the masts. What’s special here? The sheer scale, for one, and how much there is to explore. We’ve spent whole dives just penetrating the cargo holds, where the light shafts filter through the deck plates, illuminating countless glassfish and tiny cardinalfish. Keep an eye out for the resident Herre's Moray peeking from the shadows, or the bluespotted shrimpgoby diligently tending its burrow on the sand nearby. The wreck itself is a magnet for life; angelfish flit through the superstructure, and we’ve spotted impressive buffalo bream cruising the deck. It’s a site that suits experienced divers comfortable with depth and overhead environments, offering a tangible connection to history and a vibrant artificial reef. Dive it early in the morning for the best light and fewer other boats.