Deck scenery on the Okikawa Maru
now broach the subject of diving. We had discussed the idea of me diving while we were away and my biggest concern had been leaving to go for a long day, three dives and returning to a rather miffed partner. Sangat, however, being so close to the reefs, can return its dive boats to home base after each dive. Perfect! With a fed and contented girlfriend I escaped to go for a dive.
The dive team is superbly well led and fully understands recreational diving all the way to technical. I had brought snorkelling gear along with a rash vest and a dive computer. The kit I rented was Aqualung and in excellent condition, along with Nitrox and a 15-litre cylinder( I am used to either an umbilical for commercial diving, or a rebreather) I went for my first adventure. Due to our limited timescale I requested that the reef dive planned was swapped out for one of the wrecks; there was no hesitation and within ten minutes of boarding the boat we were over a Maru [ In Japanese, the suffix‘ maru’ is traditionally added to the names of ships. It means‘ circle’: sailors use the term as a good omen to ensure the ship makes a safe return voyage to its port of origin ].
Coron diving is often described as a poor man’ s Chuuk, however, that should
Stairs on the Olympia Maru
Profuse coral and fish life on the deck of the Morazan Maru
59