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Japanese Ship Wreck

The Japanese Ship Wreck just off Malapascua is a dive we always recommend, especially for a second or third dive of the day. It’s not a battleship, despite what some might say, but a smaller Japanese cargo vessel. The history is still there, a tangible connection to wartime, but it’s the way the reef has reclaimed it that really captivates us. Dropping down, the bow is often the first thing you see, stark against the blue. We love poking around the hold, imagining its former life, now home to clouds of fusiliers and the occasional lionfish tucked into a crevice. Look closely, and you’ll spot Savigny's Brittle Stars everywhere, clinging to the metal, almost part of the ship itself. The swim-throughs are easy, suitable for most divers comfortable in enclosed spaces, offering cool shadows and often a surprise encounter with a cruising amberfish. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the propeller still sits, an impressive relic now covered in soft corals. It's not a deep dive, making for good bottom time, and the current is usually mild, perfect for a relaxed exploration. While thresher sharks aren’t a regular feature here, the wreck itself offers a unique blend of history and thriving reef life, a calm contrast to the morning thresher dives.