Amatsu Maru

Amazu maru: Mitsubishi Oil Tanker Depth: (130'/ 40m) Mitsubishi built the Amatsu Maru aka Black Coral Wreck in 1943. The ship is 502 feet in length and weighs 10,567 tons. The Amatsu tops a couple of Palau's' wreck charts by being not only the deepest Japanese wreck but the largest in the whole of Micronesia Operation Desecrate I's air raid launched several 1000 lb. bombs into the Amazu. The oiler was targeted later by the post WWII Salvage Operations due to obvious economic reasons. It was too large to raise, so the company decides to dismantle it instead. During the procedure some of crew members were lost a freak explosion. The mission ended abruptly and was never resumed. Legend has it that if you night dive the engine room on a full moon'� Just joking, didn't you know that ghosts can't breathe underwater!? A combination of the salvaging process and explosion damage result in the mangled metal remains. Watch for the live amo. All Palau's wreck dives have the potential to be very dangerous. The bridge itself has three decks alone and needless to say, for the Amazu - one dive is not enough. The wreck requires both deep and advanced diving experience. Visibility ranges between 20 and 80 feet. Location: W Malakal Anchorage. Marine life: Black Coral hence the ships new nickname as well as lagoon fish.