Irako Maru

Irako Maru is a World War II-era Japanese supply ship lying upright on the sand near the mouth of Coron Bay. The 147 m by 19 m vessel is remarkably intact with much of its superstructure undamaged and heavy machinery such as engines and boilers still recognizable, making the wreck itself the primary attraction and a widely regarded, frequently dived site. The dive is boat-only using a mooring line on the bow or mast for descent. Maximum depth is about 43 m at the keel, with the main deck between roughly 28 and 35 m. Water temperature is typically around 27–30°C and visibility often ranges from about 20 to 30 m in good conditions. Currents are generally mild but can change. The usual profile is to descend the mooring line to the exterior, circle the wreck, and—where trained—make deep penetrations into engine rooms and cargo holds; interior passages include a cargo hold around 36 m that leads to the galley. Fine silt inside can rapidly reduce visibility, so good buoyancy control, gentle frog kicks, dive lights, careful gas management, and attention to no-decompression limits are essential. The main hazards are the depth and overhead environment, plus sharp metal edges. Only experienced divers with advanced/deep or wreck training should penetrate; no special permits beyond normal Coron wreck dive fees are normally required. The Irako Maru is a Japanese WWII supply ship notable for its intact condition and internal historical cargo such as food boilers and kitchen equipment, with accessible engine rooms and cargo holds that provide significant opportunities for deep wreck penetration.