Location
Narrow passage about one kilometer wide with a strong current separating Bougainville Island and Buka Island. In the center of the passage is Sohano Island.

Buka Seaplane Base (Buka Passage)
Japanese seaplane base and anchorage

E13A Jake
Upside down wreckage wings and empenage only. Possibly, removed circa 2004.

Matchin Bay
Located to the south of Buka. A large, sheltered deep anchorage used by the Japanese.

Stern Out of Water Shipwreck
A cruise ship before the war, and adapted for war usage, and sunk off Buka. Its stern out of the water is visible at low tide (as of 1970s). Shirley Cook adds: "I got a large rectangle porthole from this ship, and also another round porthole.

On Its Side Shipwreck
One ship on its side in the passage on the west side of Bougainville, (turn left at Buka but not as far down as the stern out of the water ship). Got crockery and chopsticks from the galley, and antlers, ash tray, inkwell and vase from the Captain's cabin. David said it was the Captain's cabin as Japanese captains had the habit of Deer shooting and keeping the antlers in their cabin. This wreck was only in 60 foot of water (to the bottom), so it was a great all day dive. Also got a round porthole.

Propeller Wreck
The wreck had a big brass propellor still on it (even after the salvage guys had moved through), Shirley Cook adds "Our guys were trying to work out some way of raising the propellor. They did not and it is still there."

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Last Updated
October 20, 2009