Palau · Palau · Wreck
Iro Maru
Following the mooring line down to the forward tower of an upright fleet oiler
Area photo: 陳德範（Chen, De-Fan） · CC BY 4.0
The Iro Maru is a Japanese fleet oiler and supply ship that sank in 1944 and now sits upright on the seabed. At 143 m long it is one of the largest wrecks in Micronesia, and its bow, wheelhouse and stern sit at three distinct levels, with schools of fish around the hull.
Also known as Iro Wreck, Iro Maru Wreck, Iro.
Where it is and how deep
7.2948° N, 134.4212° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers follow the mooring line down to the forward tower and onto the wide deck. The bow lies in 18 m, the wheelhouse at 27 m and the stern on the bottom at 40 m. Schools of sweetlips, batfish and jacks hover around the hull, and visibility often exceeds 25 m, though the current can be moderate.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Iro
- Type
- Fleet oiler and supply ship
- Length
- 143 m (469 ft)
- Built
- 1922
- Sunk
- 1944
- Cause
- Torpedoed by USS Tunny, then bombed during Operation Desecrate One
- Lies
- Upright, bow at 18 m and stern on the bottom at 40 m
Built in 1922 by the Osaka Iron Works, the Iro served as a Japanese naval fleet oiler and supply ship. On 22 March 1944 she was torpedoed by USS Tunny, and she was later bombed during Operation Desecrate One, the United States Navy raid of 30–31 March 1944; a massive explosion in the engine room sent her to the bottom.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
| 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
Palau Wreck Dive at Iro Maru Part 1.mov · EliteProVideo on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What experience does the Iro Maru wreck call for?+
It suits intermediate to advanced divers with wreck diving experience. The bow at 18 m is the shallowest part, and the stern lies on the bottom at 40 m.
Sources
- Iro Wreck — Fish 'n Fins Palau
- Diving in Palau — Dive The World
- Iro Maru Wreck — ScubaGo
- Operation Desecrate One — Wikipedia
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