(Civilní tanker / 834 gt.) Takzvaný “vrak z Černého ostrova” lze snadno identifikovat jako malý tanker upravený pro přepravu specifického paliva (benzínu, nafty, mazacího oleje atd.) v malých izolovaných nádržích pro doplňování pozemních skladů. Loď je přibližně 50 metrů dlouhá a sedí vzpřímeně na písčitém dně.

Tato potápěčská lokalita je ideální pro začínající potápěče s vrakem a podvodní fotografy. Jedná se o krásný ponor v čisté vodě. Můžete zde vidět spoustu škorpionů, lvíčků, trubýšů, grouperů a netopýřích ryb.

HISTORIE POJMENOVÁNÍ TOHOTO VRAKU: Japonci měli mnoho lodí pojmenovaných Nanshin Maru. Jedna Nanshin Maru byla japonská nákladní loď potopená v Malackém průlivu americkou ponorkou. Existoval také tanker Nansai Maru ex. Britská ropná loď Ploiden, potopený u Černého ostrova během druhé světové války. Tato loď byla zajata v Hongkongu a přejmenována Japonci. Poloha Nansai Maru není s určitostí známa. Může se nacházet na opačné straně Černého ostrova v 60 metrech vody.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Mapa všech vraků v Coronu

The UN Akitsushima was a seaplane tender/carrier. The ship displaced 4725 tons and was armed with ten 25 mm anti-aircraft guns along four five inch (50 cal) guns. A large Kanwanishl flying boat was also available. In the year of August 1944, on the way to Kure and Imari, at at Coron Bay on 24th September 1944, the Akitsushima was sunk by aircraft of Task Force 38. And decommissioned on 10 November 1944.

Today, the Akitsushima is a very big warship laying on her port side after being hit near

the stern or the rear. The ship was apparently broken up into two pieces. The internal damage was intensive. It is located between Culion & Busuanga Islands at the coordinates, N 11°59. 218′, E 119°58. 417′.

The crane which was utilized for lifting the seaplane out of the water during its operational era is in one piece and lying on the sea bed amidst schools of barracudas. A single mounting of a 3-barreled AA gun is currently visible at the front of the flying boat tracks. For an adventurist, this is a fascinating dive where giant groupers, schools of barracuda and yellow fin tunas can be seen.

Due to depth and metal hazards within you need to have a Wreck diver certification to be allowed to penetrate the wreck. Certified divers can access the engine room to find the four engines and machinery, which were once used for operating the crane.

Map of all the wrecks in Coron

The Olympia Maru was 122 metres in length and almost 17 metres wide, displacing 5612 tons. Originally powered by a steam engine, it was fitted with an oil two stroke six-cylinder engine producing 582hp in 1930. Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha Ltd owned the vessel till the day it sank, even though it was requisitioned by the Japanese Defence Forces during the War.

Today, it sits upright in approximately 30 metres of sea water and is located in close proximity Tangat Island in Coron Bay. The coordinates are N11*58.291’, E 120*03.707’S.

The Olympia Maru site is a perfect dive spot with a variety of marine life such as banana fish, giant bat fish and giant puffer fish, which swim around the mast, bow and stern.

Divers need to be careful of crocodile fish and scorpion fish amidst the easy penetration at the cargo rooms for wreck diving.

The wreckage is at a depth of 28 to 30 metres but is visible at 15 metres. From Coron Island, it takes about 10 minutes to reach the site. Since the bow, stern and mast areas are fully intact, one can get a good coverage of the wreck during the first dive.

Thanks to its upright position on the seabed, easy penetrations into cargo holds are available for divers. As per seasoned divers, the effective way to start exploring is by heading through the prop shaft and through to its engine room.  Among huge boilers, visibility is wonderful with sufficient light streaming through the structure.

Map of all the wrecks in Coron

Constructed by the Uraga Dock Co Ltd in the year 1938, The Kogyo Maru was built for Okada Gumi KK.
The weight of the behemoth was 6353 tons with the dimensions being a length of 129 metres and a width of 18 metres. Two powerful steam engines of 517 Nhp, fueled by oil were geared to a single shaft. Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd in Tokyo were responsible for the engine manufacture. The Kogyo Maru had her home port in Osaka. It was sunk during World War 2 by American dive bombers with 39 hands on board.

Today, the Kogyo Maru lies on her starboard beneath 34 metres of water and it is possible to swim through the entirety of the ship’s interior. There are six holds, engine room and a bridge area. In the second hold, one can see an incline of cement bags that fell as the ship capsized. Also visible, upon further investigation, is a bulldozer that draws your attention. It is easy to imagine it during a time in the past, when it was operational and driven by a driver. It is important to be mindful of the tractor and the air compressor to have a look at the obsolete but historically significant engine parts.

The next recourse is to swim up to the front mast where the crow’s nest lookout is still present as it was originally, which was 30 metres above the ocean, when the ship had sailed. It is possible to access the engine room or the captain’s bridge via the stern side of the vessel. If the diver finds that his air supply is running low, he can go up to the portside and check out the artificial coral formed at 22 metres.

If there is enough air, one can continue below deck and have a look at the submerged cargo and the mechanics of the ship.  When the diver returns to the mooring line, he/she can see a school of barracuda swimming by.

Map of all the wrecks in Coron