Joel BergsmaUnderwater photographer · Expedition diver

Palau07°21'N 134°29'EJan 201110 photos

WWII Wreck Iro Maru (Palau, night dive)

The Iro Maru is a 145' long Japanese cargo merchant ship sunk in Palau during World War II by American aircraft. The Iro Maru rests on the ocean floor at 120.' There are two uprights extending above the main deck, which sits at 80'. The Iro Maru was repeatedly hit and sunk by bombs dropped from US aircraft during the bombardment of Palau, March 30-31, 1944.

← Palau

Bow of the wreck is being reclaimed for the ocean by hard coral and oysters.Oysters are abundant among the coral on this wreck explored during a night dive in Palau 2011.Oyster. Camera needed a macro focus for this picture.This sake bottle appears to still have its cork intact.
A coral encrusted sake bottle lies amid the wreckage.Ladder amid the wreckage. The debris in the water caused my camera's flash to backscatter.Sake bottles retrieved from the wreck and displayed for divers on its deck.Self portrait.
Kostas, our divemaster guide, for the night dive. A rule is not to shine your light in another diver's face or you may temporarily blind them and, at the very least, cause problems with their vision while their eyes are readjusting.An Oyster is surrounded two species of sea urchins on the wreck's mast. Urchins are a potential hazard while night diving!