You are looking for good reasons to dive Truk Lagoon with the SS Thorfinn, keep on reading! Your advantages of living aboard this converted whaler in a nutshell: Located in the very heart of Truk Lagoon Less weather exposed The ship has a huge tonnage and is very stable Less likely to get seasick Your…
Today we dove the Hoki Maru: She was one of the earliest Union Steamship’s vessels to have diesel propulsion and was built in 1921 in Scottland. She was running under the name of M/V Hauraki for New Zealand. The Japanese merchant raider Aikoku and Hokoku Maru spotted her in 1941 on the way to Colombo…
There are two names to the wreck since the kanji letters can be either read Shotan or Matsutan. She is more commonly referred to as Shotan Maru however. Another morning in paradise and another great dive. The sea is smooth and the 7 min boat ride to the dive site bliss. Just looking around at…
The Sankisan Maru in Truk Lagoon is one of the finest coral and artifact sites. This small to medium sized freighter with brimming holds of ordinance and ammunition, was originally anchored close off Uman Island’s west shores, cowering close to other larger empty ships drawing the American’s main concentration of bombs and torpedos. Her Captain…
Seiko Maru The SS Seiko Maru was launched July 17, 1940 for original owners, Dairen Steamship Co. as a modern cargo vessel of a then unique design with engines aft rather than amidships. This design offered increased cargo hold space eliminating a space robbing propeller shaft tunnel and a need for extended shaft and…
The San Francisco in Truk Lagoon is a “classic” but deep wreck. Famous for tanks on board. Medium-large, old 5-hold freighter with a split profile. It’s depth is 150ft (45.7m) to the superstructure and 170ft (51.8m) to the deck.
On April 29th 1944 the American Task Force 58 launched their second major attack on Truk Lagoon. Although there had been a number of land based B-24 bombing runs on Truk from Rabaul the Japanese had managed to bring in a number of reinforcements. The Americans believed that taking the Lagoon would be too difficult…
The Kiyozumi Maru was built in 1934 by the Kawasaki Dockyard as a freighter with luxurious passenger accommodations. The Japanese Navy took control in November 1941 converting the Kiyozumi Maru to an armed merchant raider. Six inch guns, cannibalized from old cruisers, two twin torpedo launchers and various anti-aircraft machine guns were added. Her success…
The Amagisan Maru was originally built as a cargo/passenger ship serving the Japan-New York Line. The Japanese Navy took her over in 1943 for use as a special transport. In February 1942, she was torpedoed by the USS Swordfish near Davao sustaining damages she went over to repair at Rabaul. She was later one of…
The Fujikawa Maru was built in 1938 by the Mitsubishi Company as passenger/cargo carrier for the Toyo Kaiun Line. Her peacetime duties consisted of carrying raw silk and cotton between South America and India. The Japanese Navy took control in December 1940 converting her to an aircraft ferry. As part of her conversion she was…