Palau · Palau · Wreck
Helmet Wreck
Rifles, ammunition and helmets still aboard an upright mystery ship
Area photo: 陳德範（Chen, De-Fan） · CC BY 4.0
The Helmet Wreck is a ship of 58 m (189 ft) lying upright beside an underwater hill a few minutes by boat from Koror. Its origins are unknown; the likeliest story is that it was confiscated in Southeast Asia during the war, and much of its wartime load is still aboard.
Where it is and how deep
7.3279° N, 134.4658° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The ship rests upright at the base of a hill with its bow pointing south-west, the stern at 15 m (45 ft) and the bow at 35 m (110 ft). It is 9.5 m (31 ft) across the beam, and coral encrusts a hull that still holds ammunition, rifles and helmets. Visibility depends on the weather and is best on the incoming tide.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Unidentified ship (the Helmet Wreck)
- Type
- Ship of unknown origin
- Length
- 58 m (190 ft)
- Cause
- Not recorded; the ship's origins are unknown too
- Lies
- Upright at the base of a hill, bow south-west at 35 m, stern at 15 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 | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Palau: Boats run every month; November to April has the best conditions, and June to December is typhoon season.
Dive videos
Diving the World War II Wrecks of Palau: Helmet Wreck · Oscar Olsson on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification does the Helmet Wreck need?+
It suits intermediate divers, with a Wreck Diver certificate preferred; the stern lies at 15 m and the bow at 35 m.
Sources
- Helmet Wreck — Fish 'n Fins Palau
- Best dive sites in Palau — PADI
- OpenStreetMap geocoding — OpenStreetMap
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