Hi from Wigam

[wigam]

Hi again

Been a busy time diving over the last few days. Dived the Toa maru, a WW II Japanese cargo passenger vessel sunk off the town of Gizo. Was attacked by some Dauntless Dive bombers and some Wildcat fighters. They torpedoed the Toa Maru and holed her on her prot side, which apparently didnt do too much damage. The lack of apparent damage infuriated one of the wildcat squandron leaders who ordered his section to strafe the ship. As they completed the run the rear holds erupted into flame. The ship carried on and sunk in about 37 m of water. Amazing dive.

Here is the wreck plan of the Toa Maru


Here are some shots of the wreck, pretty amazing but sadly the pics dont do it justice. We were able to swim into all 6 cargo holds which all still hold cargo. The 3rd hold has a Type 95 tank and truck in there, still some gas masks and saki bottles.

Gas masks


Saki Bottles


Superstructure



Also dived a Japanese Zero fighter. It ditched in about 10 m after a gun battle. The rear end has come off and sits about 4 - 5 m behind the main body. I sat in the cockpit. Amazing.

Zero Engine


Me in the cockpit


Then the next day i dove on a F-6 Hellcat. Ditched after the pilot had become an ace, sadly shot down by his own wingmen. Bailed out before it went in and was rescued by natives who smuglled him back to Henderson.

Hellcat Cocpit


Hellcat Engine


Maverick back at the controls