Our first charter with Submerged Productions from Belgium got off to a slow start due to passports, airports and luggage handling, we dived the Akela, then continued eastwards into Cambodian/Vietnamese waters to search for the Araosan Maru.

The first mark 5 miles from the US submarine’s numbers produced nothing, but after radioing local fishermen , we got another mark, one digit out and got a good return on the sounder.

The wreck was the Araosan Maru, easily recognised by the shape of the stern and her size, 7000 tons. USS Hardhead put three torpedoes into her midships so she’s very broken up and twisted.It’s also obvious that  Japanese wartime materials and construction methods weren’t very good, she’s a mess! She lies mainly on her port side in 55m, less than 40m to the top of the wreck.

On the way back to Samui we dived the Tottori Maru, built in good old Scotland 30 years before Araosan, she’s in much better condition,despite Hammerhead’s torpedoes.

Here’s a video that has the Akela last year,

http://vimeo.com/2451767

In mid-March we took Richie Kohler and Co. again for a 7 day charter to look for Akita and Tairyu Marus, 4000 and 5000 tons, sunk by Dutch Sub 0-19in 1942.

After diving the Solimoes for a shake down dive we dived the first of our unknown marks . The wreck was a large freighter,sitting upright and with everything intact, but she wasn’t a WW2, so they’re still out there.

We stopped off at the Tottori Maru on the way home to make sure we had a little WW2 history and then one more unknown mark which turned out to be a large steel trawler - you can’t win them all, I suppose.Here’s a  Full trip report

http://www.richiekohler.com/trip_report_thailand2009.htm

Next confirmed long range trip is leaving 18/05, diving USS Lagarto, Tottori and new Marus, this time please. Places available.

This trip was a good one, by popular decision known wrecks were passed by and we looked at new marks, the first few were rubbish and then we found Kinrei Maru upright but severlely torpedoed in 80m, our deepest wreck yet.

Next was the USS Lagarto for Memorial Day. We attached a new flag and cleared the wreck a little more. Always an honour to dive this wreck

The next day we travelled further south nearly into Malay/Vietnamese waters and found the Tairyu Maru, a 5000 ton NYK line passeger cargo ship sunk by Dutch sub 0-19.

This is a great dive , max depth 60m , top of the wreck less than 50m. She sits upright, huge torpedo damage amidships on the port side. The O-19 fired three torpedoes at the Akita Maru, two hit but one missed and hit the Tairyu.

On the way home we stopped at the Tottori Maru for a day’s diving and then back to Samui.

Here’s a link to a trip report from one of our divers.

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/trip-reports/27385-2009-gulf-thailand-virgin-wreck-expedition.html

We’re still looking for the Akita, she must be close by.

Next long range trip is leaving July 17th

Let us know when you’re free for a trip and we can normally put a trip together with our regulars.