Diving "Nippo Maru "wreck Chuuk

Video by Nick Poole featuring Bob Sherwood, Paul Doozer Close , Elena Konstantinou , Max Kryvonos, Dennis Golosiy; Dive Site: Nippo Maru The Nippo Maru was built in 1936 by the Kawasaki Dockyard as a passeger and cargo freighter for the Okazaki Kisen Line. Her peacetime duties consisted of carrying bananas from the Taiwan to Japan.

The Japanese Navy took control of her in late 1941 and utilized her as a water transport. As such she was stationed in Truk to carry water from Dublon Island to the out lying islands where fresh water was scarce. During the "Hailstone" attack, Nippo Maru was attacked by aircraft from the carrier USS Essex, who dropped a salvo of bombs around her.

The Nippo Maru is a very interesting wreck that highlights a Japanese light tank and artillery pieces on her deck. She was found by Klaus Lindemann in 1980 and lies in 140 fsw.

Nippo Maru: Displacement: 3,673 tons; Length: 352 feet; Beam: 50 feet; Engine: 1 coal / steam turbine; Max Speed: 16.3 kts. Launched: 16 NOV 1936.
Location: Near Tonoas, Chuuk Lagoon

Description: 3,764 ton cargo vessel

Length: 106 metres (353 feet)

Depth: Max depth 50 metres (165 feet), 40 metres (130 feet) to deck, 30 metres (100 feet) to top of wreck

Visibility: 30 metres (100 feet)

Rating: *****

Awesome dive! I dropped onto the bow and headed past the truck frame to the tank, then on past the wheelhouse to the rear howitzer guns on the starboard aft section. The wreck lists to the port at 20 degrees. There is lovely coral on the king masts and we had great viz. On the second dive we did here I went into holds 4 and 5 where there were thousands of sake bottles and huge gun mounts. Two sand rays were on the sea bed by where the stern is stuck on the reef. I headed back through the wheelhouse where the wheel mount and telegraph are intact.

Видео Diving "Nippo Maru "wreck Chuuk канала Elena Konstantinou