On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 Christian Gerzner wrote:

>Viv wrote:
>(big snips)
>
>> There is one wreck in particular, name escapes me at the moment
>> because I forgot to write that down in my notes, but being
>> upside down the hull is crushing in on itself.
>
>Ahhhh, the upside down wreck, as it's mostly called, is the Hoyo Maru
>and brings back certain fond, as well as not so fond, memories.

Actually, I found out when I checked with other members of WAUPS who
attended the lecture, that the wreck I was nattering on about in this
instance was the Yubae Maru.  She is so stressed and shedding plates that
she is only expected to last another 15yrs but may be closed to divers
within 5 years.

The gun on the Hino Maru is showing serious signs of corrosion which is not
surprising factoring in that the gun boat is in 2 - 5 metres of water.

Corrosion on the Gosei Maru is on a par with that on the Fujikawa Maru ...
bad news for both wrecks.

In the early 70s some of the depth charges aboard the Sankisan Maru started
to leak - picric acid.  And, the push to ban dynamite fishing in the area
continues on. There was mention that 2 divers were killed there last year
but I totally forgot to query whether they were tourists .. in the wrong
spot at the wrong time .. or idjit locals who were planning on a bit of
dynamite fishing on the side :-(

There is some good news tho .. the Sapporo Maru, an armed trawler, is lying
in 19-24 metres one kilometre off Fefan Island and fortunately in an
undisturbed environment.

Viv