Tokai Maru

Japanese freighter torpedoed by the US submarine USS Snapper in 1943; she settled against the stern of the German WWI raider SMS Cormoran II, so two wrecks from two wars almost touch. The hull lists about 85 degrees to port, the shallowest point is near 13 m and the sea floor around 37 m; the bow is covered in yellow tubastrea coral and an old tiled wash room can be seen inside. At least four unexploded depth charges are reported on the wreck: do not touch anything. Boat dive in Apra Harbor.

Facts

• Region: Mariana Islands – Guam & Saipan
• Area: Guam
• Depth: 13–37 m
• Level: advanced
• Current: low
• Type: wreck
• Coordinates: 13.4592, 144.6542
• Highlights: Tokai Maru wreck, SMS Cormoran, tubastrea coral, wash room with tiles, unexploded depth charges, hard coral
• Tips: Advanced Open Water or higher is the standard requirement; Apra Harbor is a working port, so dive only with a local operator. Do not touch or move the depth charges and take no souvenirs.

Sources

• https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Diving_in_Guam
• https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/sv-guam/image/upload/v1/cms_resources/clients/guam/Dive_Guam_r_ca7b3446-d33a-4aaf-9eca-a2229a1fbea2.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokai_Maru
• https://assets.simpleviewinc.com/sv-guam/image/upload/v1/cms_resources/clients/guam/PR_2_Diving_the_SMS_Cormoran_II_r_3cdadbd9-97df-48ac-aaa3-c03392e43fb1.pdf