DiveTwin
Dive site

Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia

San Francisco Maru

Typical depth

63m

Type
Wreck
Typical depth
63 m
Level
Technical
Visibility
15–30 m
Water temp
28–30 °C
Current
Mild
Access
Open access
Min cert
Trimix recommended; the deck is at ~50 m and the holds at ~58–62 m. Cargo includes mines, depth charges and aircraft bombs — touching nothing is not optional.
  • Wreck
  • Deep Wreck
  • Trimix
  • Penetration
  • Historic
  • Overhead Environment
  • Tanks On Deck
  • War Grave

When to dive

BestAvoidOK

Chuuk dives best in dry season. Lagoon is sheltered, so weather is rarely the constraint. The deeper Marus (San Francisco, Nippo, Aikoku) sit too deep for routine recreational profiles and are the marquee tec dives of the lagoon.

7.3597° N, 151.8717° E

Notes

'Million Dollar Wreck' — Japanese armed cargo with three Type 95 Ha-Go tanks on deck, mines, trucks. Trimix-grade depths.

Marine life

Other
three Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks on deck — the wreck's signature image
Corals
soft coral on the masts and king posts
Sharks
grey reef shark, occasional whitetip
Reef fish
lionfish, batfish, glassfish

Wreck

Vessel
San Francisco Maru
Class
armed Japanese cargo ship
Origin
Imperial Japan
Sunk
1944 — US Navy aerial bombing during Operation Hailstone, 17–18 Feb 1944
Length
117 m
Penetration
Possible — with training

Dive clubs that visit this site

Sources

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