Nippo Maru - Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

45m Max

15-35m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Nippo Maru is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon, a 100 m freighter in 30 to 45 m of water with an intact wheelhouse, field artillery and dense soft corals. The site is defined by a 100 m freighter resting in 30 to 45 m with an intact wheelhouse complete with telegraph, field artillery pieces and a small tank on the deck, all covered in dense soft corals, creating an underwater landscape that rewards divers with every visit. Dense soft corals blanket the hull, sheltering groupers, lionfish and glassfish, with moray eels and anthias adding movement to the wreck. Water clarity in this part of the Federated States of Micronesia is frequently excellent, with visibility often extending well beyond 15 metres and a comfortably warm tropical temperature year-round. The combination of healthy hard and soft corals, nutrient-rich currents and sheltered reef systems makes Nippo Maru a reliable location for both macro photography and wide-angle encounters. Local dive operators run regular trips to the site from nearby bases, and the geography means conditions are suitable across a range of experience levels with appropriate guidance. Conservation is taken seriously throughout Micronesia, and Nippo Maru benefits from marine protection that keeps fish stocks high and coral coverage dense. Divers who plan their visit around the calm season will find the most predictable conditions, though the site can be enjoyed throughout the year. Nippo Maru deserves a place on any serious Pacific diving itinerary, offering a genuine taste of the untouched beauty that makes Micronesia diving so highly regarded internationally. Regular visitors note that the marine life here, including dense soft corals, groupers, lionfish, glassfish, moray eel, anthias, makes every descent memorable.

Dive Briefing

"The dive at Nippo Maru begins with a controlled entry and a short transfer from the nearest base, with the guide giving a full briefing on the site layout, expected marine life and emergency procedures. Descending toward a 100 m freighter resting in 30 to 45 m with an intact wheelhouse complete with telegraph, field artillery pieces and a small tank on the deck, all covered in dense soft corals, divers are immediately surrounded by dense soft corals, groupers, lionfish, glassfish, with the reef revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 45 metres, while the average depth sits near 38 metres, so gas planning and a dive computer keep the profile safe and comfortable. Currents are described as mild, and the guide chooses the entry time to make the most of slack or mild flow, using a reef hook or DSMB when needed. The topography offers natural swim-throughs and ledges that shelter larger animals, and the open water above the reef often holds cruising pelagics. Throughout the dive, neutral buoyancy protects the fragile coral, and the group stays close to the guide to manage depth and any surge. The safety stop is completed in open water on a DSMB, and the boat follows the bubbles to collect divers at the exit point for a relaxed return to base. A morning dive after a calm night keeps the soft silt settled and the deck artefacts clearly visible."