cropped-50greatDivesc.jpg

L01_Raine_Island_Logo

Final (2)

DAN Slider (500x250) - 50 Great Dives

ocean-wide-images-480x240

3Islands-Banner-500x250px

globalballooning_slider2024

Final

Adrenalin_slider4

BE_Dk

Cressi_GIF_compressed

Abyss slider 500

Scubpro_logo_blueblack250

ApolloScubalogo

AUP 50 DIVES

PerthScuba_Banner (1)

ScubaBoSlider

Adrenalin_slider1

MAUNA LOA

Darwin Harbour is a mecca for wreck diving enthusiasts, over 80 wrecks including six Catalina flying boats lie waiting to be explored.

The Darwin Harbour wrecks are a result of Japanese air raids during World War II, Cyclone Tracy in 1974, and deliberate scuttling.

Mauna Loa was launched on the west coast of America in 1919 as the SS West Conob, renamed SS Golden Eagle in 1928, and in 1934 renamed again to SS Mauna Loa.

In 1941, the Mauna Loa USAT was charted by the US War Department to carry supplies to American forces in the Philippines and found herself in Darwin Harbour when the Japanese first attacked during World War II.

The Japanese raid on the morning of 19 February 1942 by 188 planes launched from aircraft carriers and another 54 land-based bombers caused havoc. It was the first and largest attack on Australian soil during the war.

The first two Darwin attacks were planned and led by the same Japanese commander who led the attack on Pearl Harbour ten weeks earlier, and Darwin was to endure another 63 Japanese raids during World War II before the final raid in November 1943.

During the ‘Battle for Darwin’ over 240 lives were lost and hundreds were injured. Three warships (USS Peary, USAT Meigs and HMAS Mavie) and five merchant ships were sunk, and another ten ships were damaged. There was also extensive damage to Darwin’s RAAF base, airfield, army barracks and oil stores.

In the first attack, two bombs landed in an open hatch at the stern of the Mauna Loa resulting in the deaths of five crew. The other 33 crew members were safely evacuated to shore.

Mauna Loa sank in 18 metres (60’) of water and the top of the ship was clearly visible until salvage crews, ironically Japanese, removed the superstructure in 1960. The salvage operation left the cargo holds exposed and debris strewn over the bottom.

Exploration of the wreck site reveals cargo including Harley Davison motor bikes, military trucks, Bren Gun carriers and ammunition.

The marine life supported by the wreck is exceptional, particularly the corals, some of which are deep water corals growing on the wreck due to the low visibility.

Mauna Loa is a memorial to the lives lost during the Darwin raids and is a protected historic wreck, so please ‘Look but do not touch.’

The best time to dive the wreck is during the dry season at the top or bottom of the neap tides at slack water.

A word of warning, stonefish are prevalent in Darwin Harbour, so take care when on the bottom!

Special thanks to Todd Hughes from Dive Darwin.

Copyright © 2024 Steve Sinclair

Vessel details:

Class & type:          Twin screw steamer

Launched:               California 1919

Sank:                        1942 (Bombed)

Length:                    125 metres (410’)

Beam:                       16.5 metres (54’)

Displacement:        5436 tons

Speed:                      10 knots

Crew:                        38

Passengers:            Nil

Other great Darwin Harbour wreck dives:

USAT Meigs, USS Peary, British Motorist, Darwin Princess and Catalina Flying Boats.

Local dive services:

	BLAST EXPERIENCES www.blastexperiences.com.au  callum@blastexperiences.com.au   +61 (0) 408 950 889