MyBuddy
Contributor
Just wondering if anyone here has dived the Mutsu?
It’s what remains of a Japanese Nagato class battleship. Which exploded at anchor off the coast of Yashiro Island in the Yamaguchi prefecture, presumably by an act of sabotage of one of the magazines by a crew member.
Though it has been heavily salvaged the section that remains, though over turned and resting at an angle on the bridge, was in pretty good shape. When I dove it around 2006 it was still possible to follow its side of its hull from 45’ down to 120’ and slip under the deck railing and see the deck boards. Then follow its length to where the salvage stopped to see the 16” guns of the #1 turret at around 135’. It’s not regularly dived, we had to charter a small rusty fishing boat to take us out there. It was mostly frequented by fishermen, as evidenced by a number of small engines and car batteries used as makeshift anchors which were cut loose when they could not be freed from the wreck.
She was my first wreck dives and I’ll always remember her. Now that I have several hundred more dives and technical training, I’d love the chance to dive her again just to see how she’s doing. I guess I was hoping one of you knuckleheads had had the pleasure and could give an update.
If you’re ever in the area, the museum is quite interesting on its own merits even if you can’t also dive the wreck.
It’s what remains of a Japanese Nagato class battleship. Which exploded at anchor off the coast of Yashiro Island in the Yamaguchi prefecture, presumably by an act of sabotage of one of the magazines by a crew member.
Though it has been heavily salvaged the section that remains, though over turned and resting at an angle on the bridge, was in pretty good shape. When I dove it around 2006 it was still possible to follow its side of its hull from 45’ down to 120’ and slip under the deck railing and see the deck boards. Then follow its length to where the salvage stopped to see the 16” guns of the #1 turret at around 135’. It’s not regularly dived, we had to charter a small rusty fishing boat to take us out there. It was mostly frequented by fishermen, as evidenced by a number of small engines and car batteries used as makeshift anchors which were cut loose when they could not be freed from the wreck.
She was my first wreck dives and I’ll always remember her. Now that I have several hundred more dives and technical training, I’d love the chance to dive her again just to see how she’s doing. I guess I was hoping one of you knuckleheads had had the pleasure and could give an update.
If you’re ever in the area, the museum is quite interesting on its own merits even if you can’t also dive the wreck.
