Diving Guide to the Philippines 2015

113. Kyokuzan Maru
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     Location: East of Busuanga
     Depth: 35-130 ft. (10-40m)

This is one of the best wreck dives
in the Coron area as the water here
is generally clear with good
visibility. The ship is upright with
little in the way of currents and it
sits in a sheltered area off
Dimalanta Island.
This Japanese freighter was
scuttled by its crew when the crew
got word of the attacks in nearby
Coron. After scuttling the ship the
crew is believed to have gone to
nearby Dimalanta Island.
The ship has two buoys on the
two masts of this five-hold freighter.
They are at the fore and aft, so

normally two dives are done here.

Starting aft, the mast and cargo

booms are covered in corals, zigzag

clams and sea anemones. The holds

are open and the hold behind the

bridge, on the port side, has the

remnants of a fancy car, complete

with whitewalls. The majority of the

ship was salvaged after the war. But

there is still a lot to see. One room

under the bridge leading to the

engine room holds the remnants of

bowls with the Japanese Navy

insignia on the shards.

The engine room is open and one

can exit through the stack hole. It is

believed the engine was salvaged

through this hole. The stack lays on

its side leaning to starboard.

For the second dive head up to

the massive bow. Swim under the

gun emplacement area and down

into the holds where there are more

car remnants, truck parts and some

odd bales that may be asbestos. Up

top around the bridge is more

marine life. Batfish are ubiquitous.

Kyokuzan stack hole

Whitewall tire in hold

of Kyokuzan Maru