Coron · Philippines · Wreck
Irako Wreck
A 145 m provisions ship with its deck areas at 28 to 35 m
Area photo: Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0
The Irako was a 145 m Japanese provisions ship, bombed in Coron Bay during the American air raid of September 1944 and scuttled on the 24th. The deck areas divers work along run between 28 and 35 m, with the hull bottoming out at 43 m, and the interior is dark enough that penetration is a job for trained wreck divers.
Also known as Irako Maru.
Where it is and how deep
11.9677° N, 120.0402° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The profile is built around the deck areas rather than the seabed: they run between 28 and 35 m, while the hull bottoms out at 43 m, so bottom time is short and the descent goes straight to the structure. Nothing about this dive is casual. The depth, the darkness inside the hull and the sheer size of the ship put it outside beginner territory, and a torch is part of the kit rather than an extra.
Life has settled over the plating and is easiest to read once you slow down. Lionfish and scorpionfish sit still against the growth, groupers hold in the shadowed sections and turtles frequent the wreck itself. Out around the hull there are usually batfish, schools of fusiliers and jacks. Interior sections stay dark whatever the surface conditions, so penetration is for divers with wreck training and a dependable light, and plenty of dives here stay on the outside.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Irako
- Type
- Japanese provisions and refrigeration ship
- Length
- 145 m (476 ft)
- Built
- 1941
- Sunk
- 1944
- Cause
- Bombed by aircraft of US Task Force 38 and scuttled on 24 September 1944
- Lies
- In Coron Bay with the deck areas at 28 to 35 m and the bottom at 43 m
The Irako was one of the Japanese ships caught in Coron Bay in September 1944, when the third air fleet of US Task Force 38 attacked the anchorage. She was struck a number of times, with the main impact on the bridge, and was scuttled on 24 September. Completed in December 1941, she had been built to carry food and refrigerated stores for the fleet rather than to fight.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Sea turtles
- Trevally & jacks
- Barracuda
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime |
Season follows Coron: Dry December to April brings glassy seas and the best visibility; in the wet months bad weather sometimes stops diving.
Know before you go
- Interiors are dark and the ship is large enough to disorient, so penetration needs wreck training, a primary light and a backup.
- The hull bottoms out at 43 m and the deck areas sit at 28 to 35 m, so the plan has to be set on the surface rather than worked out at depth.
Dive videos
Irako wreck Dive Coron island philippines · phmadeira on YouTube
Rags II - Irako Maru -Technical.mp4 · Rags II Liveaboard on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Irako wreck?+
The hull bottoms out at 43 m, but most of the diving happens on the deck areas between 28 and 35 m. It is a short profile, and the depth is the main reason the site is closed to beginners.
Do you need wreck training for the Irako?+
For penetration, yes. The interior is dark and the ship is large enough to be disorienting, so inside sections call for wreck training and a light. The outside of the hull can be dived without going in.
Sources
- Coron Bay — Wikipedia
- Diving sites Philippines Coron — Dive The World
- Coron Palawan diving — Divezone
- Japanese supply ship Irako — Wikipedia
- Irako wreck dive site — Divezone
- Wreck and Scuba Dive Sites of Coron Bay — coronwrecks.com
In The Logbook
- Where to dive in DecemberTrip planning · 10 min read
- Where to dive in every month of the yearTrip planning · 14 min read
- Deep wreck diving: where recreational stopsWrecks · 8 min read
- WWII wrecks you can dive, by theatreWrecks · 7 min read
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