Although Truk Lagoon, an hour and a half away, has some spectacular wrecks, Guam has quite a few also. Almost all of them are within the protected waters of Apra Harbor and all are within normal sport diving ranges.

How about a German, Japanese, and American ship in the same harbor, plus more ships, planes, and a wide assortment of barges, bombs, and other artifacts from WWII.

TOKAI MARU


TOKAI MARU before she sank

The TOKAI MARU was a Japanese passenger-cargo freighter put in service in August, 1930. She was a "state-of-the-art" vessel, and was used by the Osaka Shosen Company as one of their modern fast luxury freighters on the Tokyo to New York City run. She was re-commissioned as a freighter under contract to the Japanese Imperial Navy in October, 1941, and was used to transport war materials and personnel throughout the pacific. On January 24, 1943 the Tokai was observed anchored in Apra Harbor by the US submarine FLYING FISH. Assuming that the ship was soon to leave the harbor, the FLYING FISH waited outside the entrance for 3 days. With no movement of the ship or any other vessels, the FLYING FISH fired two torpedoes set to run at 1' depth (to cross over a very shallow reef). One of the torpedoes ran aground on the reef, but the other struck the Tokai causing considerable damage, but not sinking her. Seven months later, the US submarine SNAPPER, patrolling west of Guam, spotted two ships in the harbor. Not knowing at the time that these were the Tokai Maru and another damaged ship (Nichiyo Maru), the submarine patiently waited for one week, and then made a submerged attack under the eye's of a Japanese patrol vessel less than two miles away. At 3:23 on the afternoon of August 27th, the SNAPPER fired a spread of four torpedoes, three at the nearest ship (Tokai) and the fourth at the other. The SNAPPER immediately headed west for safer waters. Over the next few hours numerous explosions were heard, and the Tokai was observed with the bow at an extreme "up angle", indicating that the stern was on the bottom. A few minutes later the Tokai slipped beneath the surface.

DIVING INFO
The Tokai Maru is a large ship, over 440 feet long. She rests in 120 feet with an 85 degree list to port (left). The shallowest part of the ship is the upper forward bridge area at a depth of 40 feet. A torpedo has blown a hole in the port #3 cargo hold, and this is undoubtedly the torpedo that sunk her. There is damage on the starboard bow, but this is believed to have been inflicted on the first attack in January, 1943. The cargo holds contains remains of truck frames, beds, scrap steel, and misc objects. The engine room is huge, and both of her engines, catwalks, and panels are intact. The after deck house in the stern of the vessel contains at least 4 depth charges, which are plainly visible from the top of the structure. DO NOT attempt to touch or move these depth charges. Visibility averages 35-40', but can vary due to the tide and large ship traffic in the harbor. A good average diving depth to see all of the Tokai would be 60-80 feet.

CORMORAN


CORMORAN at sea

The German merchant raider, SMS CORMORAN, was originally built by German in 1909 for the Russian Volunteer Fleet and named the RJASAN. She was used by the Russians as a combination mail, freight, passenger, and cargo hauler throughout the North Pacific. At the outbreak of war with Germany (April 7, 1917), the captain of the Cormoran, Adalbert Zuckschwerdt, scuttled the ship instead of turning her over to the Americans. 13 crew members went down with the ship and they were buried with full military honors in the Naval cemetery in Agana. The remainder of the crew was sent to Fort Douglas, Utah for the duration of the war. They were finally sent home to Germany on October 7, 1919.

DIVING INFO
The 290' Cormoran lays in 120 feet of water on her right (starboard) side directly beside the Tokai Maru (which went down in 1943). The easiest way to reach the Cormoran (and dive on two ship from two different wars at the same time) is to follow the midsection hull of the Tokai over the side until you see the Cormoran at 80 feet. The hull of the Cormoran is intact. The engine room is easily accessible through the skylights, and most of the superstructure is relatively intact. Visibility averages 35-40', but can vary due to the tide and large ship traffic in the harbor. A good average diving depth to see all of the port side would be 80-100 feet. Visibility averages 35-40', but can vary due weather and tidal flow in the harbor.

THE KITSUGAWA MARU


The towering mast of the KITSUGAWA

To the west of the Tokai Maru lies a third huge shipwreck, the Japanese freighter Kitsugawa Maru - another casualty of the days prior to the US invasion of Guam in 1944. Torpedoed by the submarine USS Seahorse, she was towed into the harbor for repairs and, while at anchor, was attacked by bombs and rocket fire from raiding US aircraft, finally sinking when her engine room exploded, tearing the ship in two and sending her into the depths where she sits upright on her keel at an average depth of 140 feet.

DIVING INFO
The Kitsugawa Maru is an outstanding wreck dive. Take plenty of gas (EAN 30 is the optimum choice), at least a couple of powerful dive lights and a small reel or two if you are going to explore the quarters. Again, Professional Sports Divers runs frequent charters to "The Kitz" on request. She rests close to the main shipping channel so the visibility can be poor and your boat skipper will need to stay close to provide surface cover. Look for the majestic, towering mast as you descend the shot line to her deck. She is deep so your bottom time will be limited and you need to head north-east first towards the bow to explore the Kitsugawa's most interesting and photogenic feature, the bow gun and the four cases of ammunition that lie behind it. A stonefish occasionally lurks near the gunner's position so be careful when posing for photographs. Returning along the deck, you encounter a section of living quarters which can be explored, but there is a lot of silt and the doors and gangways are very narrow. Examine the holds with the bulkheads now fallen away, providing some entertaining swim-throughs below decks at a depth of 120', but beware the tangled wreckage of the destroyed engine room. Do not spend your whole dive on the hull, however, as the mast that you glimpsed on your descent rewards you with an opportunity to photograph or just enjoy a vibrant, colorful community of corals, sponges, anemones and reef fish to rival the best the Truk has to offer.