Guam Has Two Shipwrecks From Different World Wars Touching Underwater
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Yes, Guam’s Apra Harbor holds the Tokai Maru and SMS Cormoran, wrecks from World War II and World War I that meet at a small point underwater. A section of the Tokai Maru touches the older SMS Cormoran, bringing two separate wartime histories into one dive site.
The wrecks rest in a protected harbor on an island known for warm water and varied diving. For tourists and local people, the site offers a close look at history beneath the surface, not just a view from shore.
For divers drawn to history, the encounter puts two separate wartime stories within the same underwater view.
Key Takeaways
- The Tokai Maru and SMS Cormoran meet at one point underwater.
- The wreck pair lies in Apra Harbor and is reached by boat.
- The site includes parts of both World War I and World War II history.
- Divers can view the wrecks from outside without entering them.
- Training and recent experience matter for a deep wreck dive.
How Did Two Wrecks From Different World Wars Meet in Apra Harbor?
The SMS Cormoran reached Guam in 1914, while the Tokai Maru sank beside it nearly three decades later. Their different paths ended with one wreck resting on the other in Apra Harbor.
The Tokai Maru sank on top of the SMS Cormoran in 1943, making the site a rare meeting of ships from two world wars.
The SMS Cormoran’s route from Russia to Guam
The SMS Cormoran began as the Russian passenger-cargo ship Rjasan. Built in 1909, it measured 88 meters, or 290 feet, long.
Germany captured the Rjasan in August 1914 and renamed it SMS Cormoran. The vessel reached Guam on December 14, 1914, carrying 50 tons of coal.
The crew stayed in Guam peacefully for more than two years. The United States declared war on Germany on April 7, 1917.
On that day, the SMS Cormoran was scuttled, and 13 crew members died. The vessel was scuttled after World War I.
The two wrecks became one underwater site when the Tokai Maru settled on top of the older vessel.
The Tokai Maru’s wartime sinking
Osaka Shosen built the Tokai Maru as a Japanese luxury liner in 1930. It measured 134 meters, or 440 feet, long and 18 meters, or 60 feet, wide.
The ship was recommissioned as a freighter in 1940. On January 24, 1943, USS Flying Fish fired two torpedoes at it.
One torpedo hit the Tokai Maru, but the ship stayed afloat. USS Snapper torpedoed it on August 27, 1943, sinking it onto the SMS Cormoran.
The Tokai Maru joined the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1988. The listing adds a formal historic marker to the site where the wrecks remain physically connected.
| Ship | Wartime origin | Fate and date |
|---|---|---|
| Tokai Maru | Japanese freighter, World War II | Sank on August 27, 1943 |
| SMS Cormoran | Captured Russian ship, World War I | Scuttled on April 7, 1917 |
| Wreck pair | Ships from two world wars | Tokai Maru rests on SMS Cormoran |
The Tokai Maru’s 1988 National Register listing adds a formal historic marker to a site where the wrecks remain physically connected.
What Makes Guam Shipwreck Diving at Apra Harbor Unique?
Plan for a deep boat dive: the paired wreck site reaches 121 ft, with an average depth of 82 ft. Its harbor setting also gives divers a short boat ride from shore.
The paired wreck site is boat-accessible, with listed visibility from 40 to 121 ft and water temperatures of 81-84°F. Those figures describe the combined site, not every day’s conditions.
Depth, visibility, and water conditions
The Tokai Maru listing gives a depth range of 60 to 120 ft and average visibility of 25 to 40 ft. It lists boat access and very rare shore access.
The figures differ because one set describes the paired wreck site, while the other covers the Tokai Maru listing. A maximum depth of 121 ft means divers should plan around their training and dive profile.
Wreck penetration means entering the enclosed interior of a shipwreck rather than swimming over its exterior. You can view the outside without entering overhead spaces.
A video of Guam shipwreck diving can help viewers understand how closely the ships rest together before a visit. Guam shipwreck diving tours reach this Apra Harbor site by boat.
Boat access and underwater orientation
Most wreck dives in Apra Harbor start from a boat. The Tokai Maru and SMS Cormoran site is about a 10-minute boat ride from shore.
A map of the Guam shipwreck diving site can use these coordinates: 13°27′33″N 144°39′15″E. They locate the wreck site, not a route through the ships.
The harbor gives you a direct boat approach, but the dive itself still depends on the day’s visibility and water conditions. Check the boat plan before leaving shore.
| Measure | Paired wreck site | Tokai Maru listing |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Maximum 121 ft; average 82 ft | 60-120 ft |
| Visibility | Listed range 40-121 ft | Average 25-40 ft |
| Access | Boat | Boat; very rare shore access |
Use the coordinates to identify the site on a map, then confirm the day’s conditions with a local operator.
What Can You See on the Tokai Maru and SMS Cormoran?
At about 500 feet long, the Tokai Maru offers a clear bow-to-stern route at roughly 42 feet. Its tilted shape gives divers several easy-to-recognize features along the way.
The ship lists 85 degrees to port, so familiar parts of the vessel sit at unusual angles.
Tokai Maru’s bow-to-stern route and interior
The upper forward bridge begins around 12 meters, or 40 feet. From there, divers can follow the ship’s exterior toward the stern.
Inside, the engine room has two engines and intact catwalks. Depth charges remain visible at the stern, while bed and truck frames sit in the holds.
A wash area has a tiled floor and sink. The detail feels domestic against the scale of the freighter, but it is still part of a fragile wreck.
Photos of Guam’s wrecks can help divers recognize landmarks before a visit. Actual visibility affects how much of a ship fits in one frame.
The SMS Cormoran and the deeper neighboring wreck
The SMS Cormoran lies beneath the Tokai Maru at their point of contact. The wreck pair lets divers observe both vessels without treating them as one ship.
The Kitsugawa Maru lies west of the Tokai Maru in deeper water. Its bow has an intact gun and ammunition, so this wreck offers a separate set of landmarks.
Coral and anemone cover the Kitsugawa Maru’s mast. That growth stands out against the metal structure and can help you recognize the vessel.
A planned route keeps the focus on landmarks you can reach within the dive plan. Do not treat a visible opening as an invitation to explore inside.
Keep the tiled wash area and the coral-covered Kitsugawa Maru mast in mind as distinct landmarks, not reasons to leave a planned route.
How Can You Prepare for a Safe Apra Harbor Wreck Dive?
A safe wreck dive starts with matching your training and experience to the planned depth, not with deciding how much of the ship to explore. Good planning begins with a clear talk with a local dive shop.
Boat dives are the safest and most common form of diving for visitors to Guam, and dive boats carry oxygen and safety equipment.
Questions for a local dive shop
Use these checks when you speak with dive shops about a trip. A Guam tour centered on these wrecks is a scuba boat excursion, not a land-based island tour.
- Confirm that your certification and recent experience match the planned depth.
- Ask about current conditions and the planned dive profile.
- Find out whether a guide is available and what the guide covers.
- Check the boat’s emergency equipment and response procedures.
Ask how the shop sets the route and dive time for the group. A boat’s oxygen and safety equipment should be part of the emergency plan.
Guam has two decompression chambers used to treat diving accidents. That fact is no substitute for a careful plan, sound judgment, and staying within your limits.
Limits for exploring inside a wreck
Do not enter overhead spaces without suitable wreck-penetration training, equipment, and a plan for exiting. An exterior route can still give you a close view of the ships.
For more on preparing for a wreck dive, focus on planning, gear, and safe site practices. A second wreck exploration guide covers team plans and overhead hazards.
Broader boat-excursion preparation tips can also help with comfort on a small boat, including sun protection and motion sickness.
Treat any route inside the wreck as optional, and skip it if the training, conditions, or exit plan do not fit.
What Else Can Divers Explore in Guam?
Guam has more than 150 dive sites, so the two famous Apra Harbor wrecks are only part of the island’s underwater itinerary. Reef and wreck options let you plan more than one kind of dive.
Guam has more than a dozen World War II sites, along with reefs and wrecks beyond Apra Harbor.
World War II sites beyond Apra Harbor
Guam World War II sites include underwater wrecks and historic places on land. Tours of Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Station Historic Sites require valid military identification or a sponsor.
Military-site tours require valid military identification or a sponsor, so check access before building one into your plans.
Other destinations in Guam include both diving and land visits. Downtown Guam and the Apra Harbor wreck dive are separate itinerary stops.
Guam’s waters stay between 82°F and 86°F year-round, and visibility can reach 150 feet. Conditions still change, so the best view on one day may not match another.
Other underwater stops around the island
Guam’s reef and wreck diving extends beyond the paired ships. These three stops offer a different view of the island’s underwater sites:
- The Japanese Val bomber, an aircraft wreck site.
- The American Tanker, a 90-meter concrete barge used as a breakwater.
- Guam’s coral reefs, with underwater life beyond wreck structures.
The American Tanker’s concrete hull serves as a breakwater, giving it a different shape and purpose from a sunken ship. The Japanese Val bomber offers an aircraft site instead of another vessel.
Ask about the day’s planned stops if you hope to combine reef and wreck diving. Check the access requirements before adding a military-site tour to a day of diving.
Conclusion
Few wreck dives bring two vessels from different world wars into the same underwater encounter. That close meeting gives diving Guam a distinct appeal, whether you have logged many dives or are planning your first time on a historic wreck.
If you would like to visit, contact a local dive shop and talk through your training, recent experience, and comfort with the planned dive time. A skilled guide can help match the boat trip to your goals without making wreck penetration part of the plan.
Share your certification and recent dive experience with a local operator before choosing a trip.
