Akebono Maru

The Akebono Maru is a Japanese naval tanker sunk during Allied air raids on Palau's Koror-Malakal harbor area in 1944, during World War II. She rests in the lagoon waters near Koror, with much of the hull sitting upright on the bottom and accessible to divers exploring the harbor wrecks that form part of Palau's well known collection of sunken World War II vessels. The wreck retains recognizable features such as machinery and deck fittings, encrusted with marine growth after decades submerged in these tropical waters. Palau's harbor wrecks are typically dived alongside other nearby vessels lost in the same campaign, making the Akebono Maru part of a broader circuit of historical wreck diving in the area.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Boring Giant ClamTridacna croceaReported here · unconfirmed
• Small Giant ClamTridacna maximaReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue LinckiaLinckia laevigataReported here · unconfirmed
• Lollyfish Sea CucumberHolothuria atraReported here · unconfirmed
• Pinkfish Sea CucumberHolothuria edulisReported here · unconfirmed
• Leopard Sea CucumberBohadschia argusReported here · unconfirmed
• Pineapple Sea CucumberThelenota ananasReported here · unconfirmed
• Indo-Pacific Rock-boring UrchinEchinometra mathaeiReported here · unconfirmed