Fujikawa Maru: A Truk Lagoon Classic

Few can compare to the radiant beauty of this richly adorned shipwreck Of the 45 known shipwrecks in Truk Lagoon, the Fujikawa Maru is by far the most popular. She is easy to dive, contains a treasure house of WW II memorabilia and is overgrown with a dazzling array of marine life. While other ships may be larger or more heavily armed, few can compare to the radiant beauty of this richly adorned shipwreck. Her decks are draped with a colorful tapestry of soft corals and sponges and she sparkles like a festively decorated Christmas tree. The Ship:The Fujikawa Maru was a large, six hold freighter used for transporting Japanese war materials. Rated at 6,938 gross tons, the great ship measured 435 feet long and had a 58 foot beam. She had two large masts rigged with cargo booms for loading the forward and aft holds. There were also two kingposts rigged with booms for the remaining two holds. The bridge is amidships and she has one large funnel. Powered by one Mitsubishi diesel that drove her single screw, she could cruise at about 14 knots. The vessel had a crew of 40 and could accommodate up to four passengers. The Sinking:On the morning of February 17, 1944, the Fujikawa Maru lay at anchor in the placid waters of Truk Lagoon. The vessel had just offloaded 30 Jill torpedo bombers for the Japanese air base at nearby Eten Island. Without warning, the sky above the lagoon came alive with an angry swarm of enemy fighters and bombers. Operation Hailstone had begun and the ill fated Fujikawa Maru became a first day victim. Still at anchor, the vulnerable aircraft ferry was mortally wounded by a single torpedo driven into her starboard side. Launched from an Avenger bomber, the 22 inch diameter airborne torpedo pierced the hull plating and detonated 350 pounds of explosives just aft of the ship's superstructure. Tons of seawater flooded into the number four hold. The immense weight of the incoming seawater soon crashed through adjoining bulkheads, flooding hold number five and other compartments. The Fujikawa Maru sank slowly, while U.S. Navy pilots took photographs for documentation. The Shipwreck:Today, the wreck lies one-quarter mile south of the eastern tip of Eten Island. The Fujikawa Maru is the perfect picture of a classic shipwreck. She is totally intact and sits upright on a sand bottom in 110 feet of water. The rear mast pierces the surface, serving as a hitching post for visiting dive boats. The most unique aspect of this wreck is here wide range of diving depths, thus allowing divers of all skill levels to enjoy her beauty. Snorkelers can cruise along the surface, admiring the marine life growing on the mast and kingposts just ten feet below. Beginning divers can make a slow, controlled descent along the ship's mast and explore the upper decks at 40, 50 and 60 feet. This is where much of the ship's loveliness can be found. The Fujikawa Maru sustained very little damage during the air attack. She has one torpedo hole just aft the bridge structure at hold number four. Yet, this one torpedo was able to flood the ship's cargo holds and main shaft tunnel. Marine Growth:What makes the Fujikawa Maru so incredibly striking is the lush marine life that covers her decks and superstructure. She has been transformed into a breathtaking artificial reef - a veritable garden of marine life. Delicate branches of giant soft corals hang from the cargo booms, masts and railings. These delicately branching formations grow in hues of solid pink, soft lavender, lush orange, vivid red and sparkling strawberry. It is not unusual to see three or four different colored corals on the same small structure. While the soft corals are the most awesome sight, they are but one of the hundreds of marine life species that inhabit this wreck. Hard corals of every shape and size can be found in small clumps. Small sponges of many different colors are also found on the decks, railings and exterior of the hull. Macro sized critters seem to occupy every crack and crevice of the ship's structure. There are tiny crabs, shrimp and gobies everywhere. Attached to the hull, brightly colored tunicates look much like small clumps of blueberries or raspberries. The most plentiful occupants of the wreck are fluted oysters. Doormat size anemones carpet the ship's decks near the bow and stern area, providing safe haven for colorful clownfish. The antics of these fish provide endless entertainment for wreck dives and underwater photographers. The stern area is also an attractive habitat for a family of stately lionfish. These beautiful creatures parade about the deck as though performing in a festive pageant. Swimming among all of this bushy beauty are schools of silvery baitfish. They swarm over the decks like rolling clouds, sometimes so dense that the ship's structure is obscured. These smaller fish in turn attract larger predators. Schools of jacks, mackerel and barracuda cruise the perimeter, occasionally swooping in like dive bombers and picking off a fish or two. The Fujikawa Maru has become an undersea city filled with busy residents who hustle about, producing a scene that resembles rush hour in New York City. For more information about diving the Fujikawa Maru, and other shipwrecks of Truk Lagoon, click on the home page below: