Shinkoku Maru

Shinkoku Maru was originally a 10,020 ton commercial tanker built in 1940. The symbolic name, Shinkoku, translates to "Devine Country". The Shinkoku Maru was requestioned by the Japanese Navy in 1941 and assigned to the Combined Fleet.

Torpedoed in Aug 1943 and again in July 1943, Shinkoku Maru suffered little damage and was repaired on both occasions. On Feb 18 Feb 1944, her luck ran out.

She rests in 30 to 125 feet (10 to 40 meters) of water (at N7 23.752 E151 46.373) just west of Moen Island. Shinkoku Maru rests upright and is a dive for everyone to enjoy.

Human bones remain on the operating table in the surgery.

The bathroom.

Yamagiri Maru

Now lying between 30 to 120 feet (10 to 40 meters)  (at N7 23.024 E151 49.300), the Yamagiri Maru was built in 1938 as a passenger and cargo vessel. She was a light 6,438 tons when built.

Yamagiri Maru was sunk on the 18th of Feb 1944, on the second day of Operation Hailstorm. She now lies on her port side approximately 1 mile north-northwest from the island of Fefan with it's bow pointing towards Moen.

Her cargo, still in the holds include 14 inch artillery shell projectiles, large amounts of equipment and machinery.

You almost can not recognize anything in this photograph as being part of a ship, that is how much the marine life has taken over it. (Photo by Shane Conway)

As if floating in space, here I am viewing the ruins of this ship. (Photo by Shane Conway)

A bottle and a metal housing on the starboard side. (Photo by Shane Conway)

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