When people think of wreck meccas, Chuuk, better known as Truk Lagoon, always makes the list. Now, when people talk about Truk certain wrecks always make that list. I am not going to be talking about those wrecks.
Instead, I am going to spend some time talking about the underrated wrecks, the underdogs if you will. Every guest that arrived, technical or recreational, wanted to dive into the big names like Fujikawa Maru, Shinkoku Maru, Hoki Maru, Nippo Maru, San Fransisco Maru and Rio De Janeiro Maru.
Now, while these are world-class wrecks, they tend to overshadow many of the other gems that are located within the lagoon. This is our topic for this blog so without any further ado, let’s dive into it!
Momokawa Maru
The Momokawa Maru was originally built as a passenger-cargo ship in 1941. Then, in 1943 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) repurposed the Momokawa to be used as a Naval Auxiliary vessel. During this time it would make regular passages between Japan and Micronesia carrying supplies such as different kinds of fuel, concrete, and landing barges. She took minor damage on the first day of attacks, but succumbed to a 1000lb bomb on the second, and sank off of Tonowas Island in about 43m or 141ft.
Diving on the Momokawa Maru is spectacular with an average depth of 30m or 99ft. She has a very similar layout to the Nippo Maru, as well as many of the same treasures. However, because fewer divers visit this wreck, it is more pristine. It lies hard to the port side. In the forward holds a diver can come across all the parts needed to build an airplane, like fuel tanks, wings, and even radial engines.
Divers can also find trucks, landing gear, and artillery shells within these holds. The bridge still has the telegraph, speaking tubes, and steering binnacle which makes great photos, but the greatest treasures on this wreck are located in the engine room. The engine room is easily accessible through the skylights.
This engine room can easily take up a diver´s entire dive, there is so much to see and look at within it. Gauges, winding staircases, tools, switchboards, and lots more. If engine rooms are your thing, then this is one you will not want to miss. The superstructure offers an incredible amount of exploration, with the galley, bathrooms, and crew accommodations all open and easily accessible.
Shotan Maru
The Shotan Maru is a steam engine ship built in 1943 and was immediately put into service by the IJN. During her service, she made many trips in and out of Truk Lagoon transporting supplies. During the second day of Operation Hailstone, Shotan Maru was underway when it was attacked by Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers. It took heavy damage during this attack and quickly sunk beneath the waves off of Fanamu Island at a depth of 58m or 190ft.
The Shotan Maru has an average depth of 42m or 132ft and has plenty to offer with as much or as little penetration that a diver could want. This wreck is one of my personal favorites for many reasons. One of which is that I always have a wonderful, peaceful dive on the Shotan Maru. Another reason is all the artifacts that are still in and on the ship. In the front holds you can find bottles covering the floor, concrete bags stacked to the ceiling, a large portable generator, munitions of various kinds, china, and even ink bottles.
You can find the anti-aircraft guns which have fallen one deck below their original placements. The engine room is in great condition but quite silty, as not many venture into it. Many divers quickly breeze through the back holds, taking a few quick glances at the wheelbarrows, munitions scattered about, and check out the bomb damage. For me, however, this is my favorite place on the ship. The back holds have medicine bottles that have floated out of their boxes and are trapped below the deck now. A diver can find all kinds of scientific equipment such as bottles, thick rubber gloves, safety glasses, and utensils if they know where to look.
Unkai Maru
The Unkai Maru is a coal-powered steamship that was originally built in Great Britain in 1905, making her one of the oldest vessels in the lagoon. She was then bought in 1911 and turned into a merchant vessel. It was later requisitioned by the IJN in 1944. The Unkai Maru was attacked on both days of Operation Hailstone. On day one she took hits on one of the early waves, and again later in that same day. As the sunset Unkai Maru was on fire, but still afloat. On the second day, still burning, more bombs were dropped on the ship, and she sank later that day off the coast of Uman Island in 44m or 144ft.
This old ship is a miraculous dive, with an average depth of 25m or 82ft divers have plenty of time to explore. The 3” bow gun’s maker’s markings are still legible and always worth a minute or two to check out and look at. The front holds are full of a somber reminder that this was an active ship, with people on board. Within this hold, divers can find personal belongings, such as boots, china, flasks, and gasmasks. The engine room can be a bit tight to get into but is a fun place to poke around and see all the steam piping, gauges, and lights. A fun and interesting swim through is the fallen smokestack. Divers can swim from one end to the other, while it is indeed a bit of a gimmick, it is still fun to do. There is also a small galley to look at before passing by the empty rear cargo holds and into the old-styled rear steering quarter. The depth charges can also be found in the rear of the ship.
GOSEI MARU
Gosei Maru was built in 1937 in Japan. It was designed specifically with the intent of maximizing its cargo-carrying capabilities, leaving a minimal amount of room for the crew’s living quarters. On the first day of the attack, the Gosei Maru was struck by torpedoes in the front cargo holds. According to the reports, she sank almost immediately off the coast of Uman. It was later found that the ship was nearly empty during the attack
Gosei Maru offers up a fun dive that can range in depth from 3m or 10ft down to 36m or 120ft. In the cargo holds divers can swim through the large hole from the torpedoes that sank the ship, and can also find some of the ship’s cargo. The cargo consists of long lance torpedoes, lamps, and oil drums. Many photographers love the stern area because it comes up to as shallow as 3m or 10ft, and they can find the single screw and rudder which are very photogenic. Other than the screw and rudder, there is always an abundance of wildlife, and some interesting swim-throughs in the engine room and crew quarters. Many interesting artifacts can be found throughout the entire wreck. This is also one of the few wrecks that a diver can do their safety stop while still on the wreck.
IJN Fumizuki
The IJN Fumizuki is a Japanese destroyer and was one of twelve built of the same class (Mutsuki) in 1926. It is also one of two destroyers within the lagoon, the other being the IJN Oite. The Fumizuki was armed with six torpedo launchers, three in the front and three in the back. She also had four 4.7” 50 cal. Guns, ten 25mm anti-aircraft guns, were able to perform minesweeper duty, and use depth charges. The Fumizuki was very active in the Japanese war effort, helped with the invasion of the Phillipean Islands, evacuation of Japanese troops from Guadalcanal, and had a role in many of Japanese troop transports. During these deployments, the Fumizuki took damage, as would be expected. After one engagement, it was sent to Truk for repairs. On February 17th, four 500lb bombs were dropped on an evading Fumizuki, with two of them scoring direct hits. She was engulfed in flames and sunk off the coast of Udot Island the next day.
Diving the Fumizuki is unlike the other wrecks of Truk. The main reason behind this is the obvious one. It is not a Maru, or merchant vessel. It is covered with guns, torpedo launchers, anti-aircraft guns, and depth charges. While it is possible to get inside this destroyer, it is extremely tight with dive gear and is discouraged, as divers have lost their lives doing so. There is enough armaments and wildlife outside the ship, that there is little reason to venture inside of it. Many times the Fumizuki gets overshadowed by other wrecks, like the Shinkoku Maru, which is not too far away from its resting place.
With close to 50 ships sunk within the lagoon, of course, some will get overshadowed by others, that is expected. But I hope that this article gets you excited for some of the underdogs within the lagoon. So, before your next trip reach out to us here at The Dirty Dozen and read up about all of the available wrecks at your fingertips in Truk. Hopefully, you can join us on one of our available trips and we can get “Dirty” together.
About The Author
I am Tarrant Dunford, I have been swimming before I could walk, and scuba diving for over half my life now. I am a lover of history, which is why wreck diving holds a very special place in my heart.
I spent an amazing 14 months, over 550 dives in Truk taking people through its wrecks. Here, I met Aron Arngrimsson when he was running his first Dirty Dozen trip and later got to see how he did it, while I was working on Truk Master in Bikini Atoll.
My time in Truk just amplified my love for wrecks, and I will talk about them to anyone that wants to listen, and even to those that do not.
Photography by Martin Cridge and Aron Arngrimsson