Palau

16 Images

Palau is located approximately 800 km east of the Philippines, and consists of a series of islands ~459 km2 in total size. Palau’s coral reefs are considered to be one of the “Seven Underwater Wonders of the World.” Located on the north-eastern margin of the “coral triangle,” Palau’s coral reefs have both high species diversity and high habitat diversity. Palau's unique limestone rock islands, covered by dense jungle vegetation, contribute to the scenic attractions above the surface and complement the prolific marine environment and collection of World War II wrecks that provide some excellent diving below.

Iro

25 Images

The Iro and her sister ship, the Sata, sank during Operation DESECRATE ONE within 300 yards from each other in the Urukthapel anchorage. Ever since their discovery, numerous efforts have been made to identify which ship is which. The Iro was a fleet oiler and supply ship. On March 22, 1944, on her way from Philippines to Palau, a torpedo launched from the submarine USS Tunny hit her bow forward of the bulkheads. On March 30, 1944 she came under fire and was bombed during Operation DESECRATE ONE. A massive explosion in the engine room sent her to the bottom.

Length: 470 ft. 143 m. Gross Tonnage: 14,050 tons. Depth: 28-40 m.

Amatzu Maru

12 Images

Nicknamed Black Coral Wreck for numerous bushes of Black Coral that adorn the ships guardrails and the superstructure. The Amatsu Maru is the largest shipwreck in Micronesia and the deepest Japanese wreck in Palau. This oil tanker sank, like all other WWII Japanese wrecks in Palau, during the air raid Operation DESECRATE ONE on March 30-31, 1944. She was partially salvaged after the war. The bow is raised above the main deck with ladders on both sides connecting it to the deck. The anchor winch and anchors were removed during the unsuccessful salvage operation in the early 1950s. The bridge is constructed of 3 decks, the upper most is the navigational deck, some instruments can still be found. The bridge can be entered from above between the support beams. The wooden walls and floor structures were destroyed by fire or have deteriorated over time. The Amatsu Maru was hit directly by several 1000 lb. bombs. US Navy archive aerial photos taken during the attack clearly show heavy smoke rising from the engine compartment.

Salvage Operation After WWII: the Japanese were granted salvage rights in the Pacific. Through the late 40s and early 50s Japanese salvaging companies attempted to dismantle or raise many of the wrecks in Palau and Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon. The Amatsu Maru was a prime salvage target when the recovering world economy was craving for tankers. The salvage company originally sought to raise the ship, but later decided to dismantle the ship. During an attempt to cut through the plates, it is believed the flame of a torch hit trapped gases setting off an explosion that killed two men. The Japanese then abandoned the salvage attempt, believing the accident to be an omen of foreboding.

Length: 502 ft. 153 m. Gross Tonnage: 10,567 tons. Depth: 30-40 m.

Bichu Maru

21 Images

It should be said at the outset that there is still debate today as to whether this wreck is actually of the Bichu Maru and the site is alternatively referred to as The Whiteface Wreck due to its proximity to an exposed area of pale rock. It is situated close to Uruktapal Island. The Japanese Army Cargo Ship Bichu Maru was built in 1942-43. A torpedo hit in the hull sunk the ship on 30th March, 1944 during DESECRATE ONE. Nowadays, she lies on its port side with its starboard anchor still in the stowed position. All holds are empty which allows easy access here and you can easily swim through to the engine room. Most of the wooden decking has rotted away, but this does allow almost uninterrupted views of the outside and the opportunities for photography are excellent despite visibility generally not being that good. No gun remains, but the anchors are still intact.

Length: 367 ft. 112 m. Gross Tonnage: 4,667 tons. Depth: 10-30 m.

Chuyo Maru

17 Images

This medium sized costal freighter was bombed during Operation DESCECRATE ONE on March 30-31, she sank on April 1, 1944. The Chuyo Maru is one of the most popular wrecks in Palau. Nicknamed Lion Fish Wreck for the large number of lionfish that reside in and on this ship. In the early 1990s a fishing boat unknowingly anchored above the Chuyo Maru, while lifting their anchor they snagged the Chuyo anchor. The chain from the fishing boat broke trying to lift both anchors. Both anchors can now be seen lying together on the deck.

The bridge structures were burned during the bombing and have since disintegrated; remains of the brass compass and ship's telegraph can still be seen. The engine room is relatively large but can turn into rusty -brown silt filled water very fast. Further aft, toward the stern past the engine room skylights are the stern gun, four (4) ammunition boxes and two (2) depth charge launchers both containing a depth charge. The stern gun is a standard 1.86 tons gun with short barrel with a maximum range of 17,388 feet (5300 meters). This type of gun was usually mounted on ships under 5000 tons.

Length: 285 ft. 89 m. Gross Tonnage: 1,941 tons. Depth: 30-40 m.

Helmet Wreck

29 Images

Drop down the mooring line to the deck of the ship. Use the twisted and deteriorating guardrail surrounding the aft deck as a guide as you swim down towards the bow. The first sight is a round aft gun platform. The gun barrel is pointing to port amid the mangled steel of the collapsed gun mount. There are two depth charge release boxes located on each side of the platform; their lethal charges are still inside. The prop is almost completely covered by bottom silt. On the aft starboard side of the ship a massive explosion tore open the hull revealing the ribs of the ship and scattering drum-like depth charges onto the sea floor.

The exposed main cargo hold reveals stacks of depth charges neatly arranged on port side and, due to a massive explosion, scattered around on the starboard side. Under the port upper deck, stacks of helmets, now cemented together by decades of underwater corrosion, can be found. Between piles of rifles and ammunition, gas masks stare out at divers from the sediment. Along the port side you will come to the engine room's skylights and a pair of engine room ventilators that tower upward. The ship's main stack, now sitting on the bottom on the starboard side, left a gaping hole in the middle of the deck. There is an inner passageway, leading to several small rooms and a catwalk above the engine room. The forward hold is half full of silt, but among the web of electrical wires, electronic equipment and ceramic jars are three (3), clearly visible, huge radial aircraft engines.

Length: 189 ft. 58 m. Gross Tonnage: unknown tons. Depth: 15-35 m.

LST T1

6 Images

The T1 type LST was a novel 1943 Japanese design of landing ship where landing craft and cargo was launched down a sloping deck over the stern of the ship. 22 ships of this type were launched before the end of the war and were often fitted with depth charges and used as escorts. This 292-foot Japanese Navy landing ship suffered heavy bomb damage. It is good for exploration and features interesting armaments.

Length: 321 ft. 89 m. Gross Tonnage: 1,500 tons. Depth: 21-29 m.

Nagisan Maru

11 Images

Combined Fleet Passenger Cargo built in 1931 by Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tokyo. The Nagisan Maru is medium size freighter that was restructured prior to the war to carry bulk cargo. She was sunk by a bomb hit on her stern during operation DESECRATE ONE, March 30-31, 1944. The Nagisan Maru was carrying barrels of aviation fuel and oil when she was hit. The ship burned for two days before sinking. The fire weakened the bridge and decks, they have collapsed into the holds of the ship. Some of the fuel drums can be seen on the ocean floor surrounding the ship. Penetration of this wreck is extremely difficult due to the damage she sustained from the bombs and ensuing fires. Visibility on the wreck is usually poor despite the fact that the wreck lies within a protected area.

Length: 362 ft. 110 m. Gross Tonnage: 4,391 tons. Depth: 23-27 m.

Raizan Maru

13 Images

The Raizan Maru was a Japanese medium sized cargo Freighter, built in 1943. She was attacked by a Bunker Hill SBD, a navy single-engine dive bomber, on 30 March, 1944. It was heavily damaged with its bow blown apart and with damage to the No. 2 hold. There is also significant damage to the engine room from bombing and salvage attempts. Its cargo of 2,500 tons of nickel ore and scrap iron was recovered. It is stripped of all its upper superstructure, deck and hull. However, there are some loose coils of cable strewn about the aft of amid ship.

Length: 321 ft. 111 m. Gross Tonnage: 2,838 tons. Depth: 24-33 m.

Ryuko Maru

14 Images

Japanese Cargo Ship attacked by aircraft from the Carrier Lexington as part of Task Force 58, Operation Desecrate One, on March 30 and finished off the following day by aircraft from the Carrier Yorktown. She sunk upright about 75 yards off Ngargol Island which forms the northern arm of Malakal Harbor, and is a good dive for penetration.

Length: 321 ft. 98 m. Gross Tonnage: 2,764 tons. Depth: 21-37 m.

Teshio Maru

25 Images

The Teshio Maru along with several other ships tried to escape Palau waters ahead of Operation DESECRATE ONE on March 30, 1944 when she was disabled. She was headed north to the Toachel Mlengui Passage when she was strafed and bombed. Although not directly hit, she was crippled when the stern was staved in and the prop shaft bent by a bomb exploding along side the ship. The ship drifted along the main channel until it was beached on the reef. After being beached for a number of years, the Teshio Maru slipped off the reef and sank parallel to the underwater coral slope, coming to rest on her starboard side. After the war, while the ship was still on the reef, she was salvaged.

Length: 321 ft. 98 m. Gross Tonnage: 2,820 tons. Depth: 14-24 m.

Reefs

122 Images

In the 1960's, Jacques Yves Cousteau and his famous ship the Calypso visited Palau. In his journal, Cousteau reported that Palau's colorful Underwater Walls and Drop Offs were, in his opinion, the best in the world. This put Palau on the map of the budding diving community. Despite, the corals of Palau not being the biggest of the world, they are probably the most beautiful and diverse. According to many scientists Palau is the most biologically diverse coral reef of the world. Sea biologists have found 700 coral species and over 1500 fish species in the reefs of Palau.