Coron · Philippines · Wreck
Nanshin Maru
An upright 45 m hull in unusually clear water off Black Island
Area photo: Ray in Manila · CC BY 2.0
The Nanshin Maru, also called the Black Island Wreck, is the 45 m hull of a post-war Philippine vessel rather than one of the Japanese wartime wrecks. It sits upright on sand off Black Island, far from Coron town, and divers go for an upright wreck in unusually clear water, with scorpionfish and lionfish on the plating.
Also known as Black Island Wreck, Nanshin-Maru tanker.
Where it is and how deep
12.1538° N, 119.8201° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck starts in 21 m of water and sits upright on a sandy bottom at 32 m, and the water around it is often extraordinarily clear. Scorpionfish, lionfish, trumpetfish and batfish are frequent sightings around the structure, and the same clarity makes the site ideal for night dives and underwater photography.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Nanshin Maru
- Type
- Post-war Philippine vessel
- Length
- 45 m (148 ft)
- Cause
- Not recorded
- Lies
- Upright on a sandy bottom, from 21 m at the top down to 32 m
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| 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.
Dive videos
Diving the Nanshin Maru (Disney Wreck) - Black Island, Philippines · Whole Other World Scuba on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is the Nanshin Maru a World War II wreck?+
No. Unlike the Japanese ships of Coron Bay, the Nanshin Maru is a post-war Philippine vessel, 45 m long, dived for its upright hull and clear water rather than its history.
Sources
- Wreck Dives — Sangat Island Dive Resort
- Wreck and Scuba Dive Sites of Coron Bay — Dive Right-Coron
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap contributors
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