Okikawa Maru

Okikawa Maru is a large World War II Japanese tanker wreck offering a dramatic, scenic dive on an upright hull roughly 160–168 m long. Much of the superstructure and bow are twisted from wartime damage and the hull is extensively encrusted with soft and hard corals and sponges, creating habitat for reef fish and making the wreck a prime visual attraction. Boat-access only; divers enter from a dive boat, descend on mooring lines and swim down onto the wreck. The deck sits about 10–16 m with the keel around 24–26 m. Water temperatures are typically in the mid-20s to high-20s °C and visibility often reaches about 10–15 m on a clear day. Strong tidal currents frequently run through the channel, especially near the stern, so drift diving along the hull is common; the shallow deck can allow long bottom times in calm conditions. Penetration is extensive but creates an overhead environment and entanglement risk, so interior exploration should be attempted only by trained wreck divers with appropriate equipment. The vessel was a large Japanese tanker sunk by Allied bombing in September 1944 and now lies upright on a sandy bottom. Notable features include a bent bow, twisted superstructure and numerous interior passages and swim-throughs such as cargo holds, the propeller shaft up into the engine room, and collapsed decks that form exterior and interior corridors.