HIJMS Nagato (Wreck)

USS Saratoga (CV-3) was an aircraft carrier built for the US Navy in the 1920’s. She was surplus to postwar requirements and was assigned to Operation Crossroads in 1946. Operation Crossroads was a test conducted at Bikini Atoll to evaluate the effect of the atomic bomb on ships.

The San Francisco Maru was a 117 meter long passenger-cargo ship built in 1919. She was sunk in 1944 during operation Hailstone. She lies very deep, and rests on an even keel between 42 and 64 meters. This wreck is loaded with war materials and one of Truk Lagoon’s most fascinating technical wreck dives.

The Heian Maru was a passenger-cargo ship was built in 1930 and is 155 meters in length. She lies between a depth of 10 - 35 meters. She is the largest ship remaining in Truk Lagoon, and has large passageways with an expansive bridge and engine room.

Truk lagoon is the perfect location for wreck dives. The Japanese naval base was attacked in 1944 by the United States. During this attack more than 60 ships were sunk and more than 200 airplanes went down. The waters here are deep and filled with many historical war artefacts.

The Shinkoku Maru was a 152 meter long Naval Tanker built in 1940 which sank in 1944 during operation hailstone. She sank upright and rests on an even keel with a superstructure depth between 12-40 meters.

Drift dive with possibility of high currents and moderate to rough seas. Barracuda, sharks, large pelagic fish, corals. Features a large cavern at 115’. This is an exciting dive for very experienced divers!

Drift dive with possibility of high currents and surge. Schools of parrot fish, sharks, large pelagic fish, and some of Guam’s most pristine corals. A great dive that can only be accessed by a long boat ride and only when the seas are most calm.

30 minutes west of Papatura, lies Erik’s Encounter. This site is a large wall stretching for 400 meters. This site is exposed to large swell if a windy day. The sites begins at five meters and runs thirty+ meters deep. This site experiences bi-directional currents influenced by tidal movements.

Twenty min boat ride west of Papatura lies G spot. This site is a bommie at 5 meters down to 30+ meters. This site is exposed so experiences large swell and current. When rough it can be hard to spot so is best on a sunny day.

Sloping reef (10-130’) on the NW corner of Guam. Drift dive with possibility of high currents and is best for Advanced to Expert divers, except for the calmest conditions. Barracuda, sharks, large pelagic fish, sea whips & hard corals. Super-clear water makes this a great drift dive!