Articles

Jun 30 2015

Truk Lagoon (4) – “Kiyosumi Maru”

Author: DivingWorld

The Kiyosumi Maru is a 137m, 8,614 ton passenger-cargo ship and it lies on it’s port side in Chook lagoon.

The shallowest part is the starboard side at 14m and the deepest at 30m.

It is an easy “user friendly” wreck to dive on.

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In the very interesting engine room we came across large engine cylinders.

There were many interesting artifacts such as teapots, guns, torpedo launchers, spare propeller blades and even bicycles.

There is good marine growth all over the outside of the ship with the resulting colourful fish life, all over.

This ship also came to it’s end in “Operation Hailstorm” in WW2, when the Americans bombed Truk Lagoon.

A was a very nice wreck to dive on.

Jun 26 2015

Truk Lagoon (3) – “Kensho Maru”

Author: DivingWorld

The Kensho Maru is another beautiful wreck in Truk Lagoon.

This 36m deep, 116m long 4,862 ton passenger-cargo ship “lies” upright and leans slightly to port.

She also sank during “Operation Hailstorm” in WW2.

There are many artifacts on board such as medical tables, bottles, plates, binoculars and a sextant.

The helm, cabins and galley are all very interesting.

But, the engine room is best, with all the engines and boilers still in “good” condition. (Not working condition, photographically speaking)

One dive was not enough, we could have dived a couple of times on this wreck.

Jun 24 2015

Truk Lagoon (2) – “Rio de Janeiro Maru”

Author: DivingWorld

Today we dived on the wreck of the Rio de Janeiro Maru.

The name can still be seen on the ship.

One of the photogenically speaking, “beautiful wrecks” of Truk Lagoon, is the Rio de Janeiro Maru. It lies on it’s starboard side.

The ship was built in 1930 and was a beautiful 8 deck passenger liner. She sank on her anchorage after being struck by 2 bombs during “Operation Hailstorm” on Feb. 17, 1944.

She lies between 12m and 24m depth. The stern is still in good shape. The cargo includes many cases with bottles, coal and coastal defence guns.

It is a 141m, 9,626 ton Naval transport ship. It was used as a submarine tender vessel by the Japanese in WW2.

It is a beautiful wreck to dive on. Swimming along the deck passages and through the cargo holds, has an eerie feeling. The stern with it’s gun is in good shape.

The deck and superstructure is all covered with corals and millions of colourful fish all over.

The bow deck, however, is clean with very little coral life on it. The very large bow gun can also still clearly be seen. Truly a beautiful wreck to dive on.