wreck

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Kyokuzan Maru

The Kyokuzan Maru is a beast of a wreck, and for us, it's the main event at Apo Reef. Dropping down, you start to make out the superstructure, dark and imposing against the blue. We love how much of the ship is still intact; you can really get a sense of its original form, especially the bow and stern sections, which are incredibly dramatic. Inside, the light filters through portholes and gaping holes, creating these beautiful, eerie shafts of light. It's a proper adventure exploring the cargo holds, where you'll find schools of Ternate chromis and horned bannerfish swirling around, almost like the ship’s new inhabitants. Look closely on the deck plates and you might spot a blue-spotted hind peeking out, or a Christmas blenny darting into a crevice. The Kyokuzan Maru is perfect for divers who appreciate the history and the sheer scale of a good wreck, but also love seeing how marine life reclaims these structures. The currents here can pick up, so we’d suggest an early morning dive when things are usually a bit calmer, giving you more time to really soak it all in.