(Depth 15m - 22m)

On Dec 15th, 1944, 1,619 American and British prisoners of war were herded onto this Japanese luxury liner for transportation to Japan where they were to be used as slave labour. Being unidentifiable (the Japanese did not mark their ships correctly), Allied planes and shipping had no way of knowing that prisoners were aboard and she was repeatedly attacked. Vessels such as these were known as Hell Ships, so named because of the horrendous conditions in which the prisoners were kept. The Oryoku Maru burned for 2 days and sank after heavy bombardment from American Fighters, more than 300 Allied prisoners were lost.

The wreck is only 150m off Alava Pier in the main harbour and rests in 22m of water. As she was sunk in shipping lanes, she was crushed by explosives afterwards to eradicate threats to navigation.

The wreck is over 100 metres long, now a mass of bent steel. Little of the ship can be identified, but one anchor is in place, the propeller can be seen, masts etc can be seen as well as some aircraft engines which were cargo. The wreck is home to a colourful array of marine life. Clown fish, angelfish, spotted sweetlips, and lobster will be found and a big school of trevallies swim overhead.