Aikoku Maru

A dive where the bones of the crew can be found. On the port side the ship ends in front of the funnel as though sliced clean in half. The middle of the wreck leads to the engine room where there are stairs leading to it. You will see cabins, basins and cement bags. It averages about 17 to 19 minutes a dive with deco of 2 minutes at 9 metres, 5 minutes at 6 metres and 11 minutes at 3 metres. Near Tonoas in the lagoon is a 10,437 ton armed merchant cruiser 150 metres (498 feet) long laying at 64 metres (210 feet), 49 metres (160 feet) to deck, 40 metres (130 feet) to top of wreck The viz is generally 20 metres (65 feet) and the dive itself is very popular. Head into the hold to the decks and then the bottom where skulls and bones lie under the silt. The Midship superstructure is collapsed and penetration is not recommended. There is an anti-aircraft gun on the deckhouse. The Aikoku Maru is also known as '�Swallow Bird'� The ship was painted in camouflage colours resembling a smaller version of the P&O vessel, SS Oriana. Launched 25 April 1940 for Osaka Merchant Marine this passenger-cargo vessel joined the war with two sister ships, the Gokoku Maru and the Hokoku Maru. Built by Tama Shipbuilding, Tama, Japan for Osaka Merchant Marine. To be turned into a merchant raider for Special Cruiser Squadron 24.it was required that four guns and twin torpedo launchers be fitted on deck. During Operation Hailstone the Aikoku Maru fell under attack from Avenger dive bombers hit twice in the front part of the ship and consequently exploding. She was later discovered by Jacques Cousteau's in 1969.