On my two previous visits I had not dived this wreck. Opinions on it seem to be polarised. Beforehand I was told that it was so badly damaged that it was practically empty and just a shell, which was largely true. I was also told that there were masses of fish on it, and the views looking out of the wreck to the clean, white sand beyond were really pretty, which was also true. On balance I fall into the second camp, as I thoroughly enjoyed my dive.
The Kikukawa was a cargo ship and, according to Klaus Lindemann, on 7th October 1943 supplies were being loaded for a garrison in the Marshall Islands when fire broke out. The ship was carrying a large amount of ordinance, and when the fire reached it in the evening there was a massive explosion. The explosion sank the Kikukawa, completely destroying the rear of the ship. It also sank a salvage vessel that was attempting to fight the fires.
The forward part of the Kikukawa is all that is left, and it is almost upside down. Inside is just a huge cavernous interior with some oil drums, some mangled pieces of machinery. As I had been told the views out onto the sand were lovely, and there were masses of fish on the wreck, including two big puffer fish. Andreas spotted a shark outside.
The hull has some ridges on it, which were apparently caused by pressure waves from the explosion. It was an interesting wreck to see, with good fish life. One I would like to do again.
Kikukawa Maru
- Displacement: 3,833 tons
- Length: 354 feet
- Beam: 50 feet
- Depth: 20 – 37 m.
Our Dive
- Depth: 39.3 m.
- Time: 49 minutes
- Gas: Air
