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San Francisco Maru

Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia

Typical depth
63 m
Type
Wreck
Level
Technical
OPEN WATERADVANCEDDEEPTECHNICALSURFACE204060SAFETY STOP · 3–6 mTYPICAL63 mBOTTOM · 63 m

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

Site features

  • Wreck
  • Deep Wreck
  • Trimix
  • Penetration
  • Historic
  • Overhead Environment
  • Tanks On Deck
  • War Grave

When to dive

Best
Dec–Apr
Avoid
Jul–Sep

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.

Conditions & access

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.

Location

7.3597° N, 151.8717° E

Dive clubs that visit this site

3 operators list this site on their website

Sources

Curated from 2 sources

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