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Kairiru
and Muschu Islands
This month I was in Wewak for
two weeks [and two weekends] working for a client who is building
a Tuna Loining Plant. I get to dive on coral reefs [for a fee];taking
water samples,photos and other measurements. The weekends I went
exploring for World War 2 relics.
The first weekend I went out
to Kairiru and Muschu Islands, Immediately offshore from Wewak.
travel is by dingy or "Banana Boat." Kairiru Island
was occupied mainly by Japanese Navy Forces at the end of the
war, when they surrendered It was never invaded. Muschu Island
next door was occupied by Japanese Army forces until the end
of
the war, when it was turned into a.
POW compound for the surrendering Japanese forces in the Wewak
region.
Kairiru
Island
At the western end of Kairiru Is is Victoria Bay, which is interesting
for its wrecks. I dived on two of them, one a small barge and
the second a 2-3000 tonne freighter.in 30 metres of water. An
excellent wreck, if you are looking for corals and the explosive
effects of aerial bombs. There is a Japanese Destroyer in 60 metres
which I didn't dive on this trip, and rumours of a Mavis as well
also in deep water. The next day I dived on a Pete [could be a
Dave] in 16 metres, upside down.Its intact, except for the float.
Visibility was poor [about 2 metres]. I took some poor quality
photos. Later that day I snorkeled on a Tony on the southside
of Muschu Island [2metres] / This wreck is basically an engine
and a few frames only. There are several other ship and plane
wrecks [perhaps 8-10] in the waters around these two islands,
known to local divers, and many more to be found as well according
to combat records . I've motivated my local dive crew and expect
to do some more diving in the waters around these and other islands
on my next trip, later this year.
The next weekend, I spent a day
walking around a part of Kairiru Is. I started at St Johns, at
one end of the road, where there are the remnants of a Dave in
the local sago swamp. This plane is slowly disintegrating as the
decades pass. I feel that it is a good static restoration candidate,
due to its rareness [any sponsors?]
The road lead past several Japanese
tunnels,some still fitted with fuel drums full of stones laid
out in defensive patterns;waiting for the invasion that never
came.There was also a large generator, a wrecked truck and a wrecked
Imperial Japanese Navy fire engine, that I suspect was used to
pump water to troops stationed nearby.More wrecked trucks and
a Motorcycle [copy of a 1934 Harley Davidson] were spotted, to
round out the days trip.I didn't visit two large naval guns high
in the hills, as I ran out of time. Two years ago Justin and I
saw similar guns on Muschu island; so there's another visit looming
as well. Sunday I visited and explored Wewak; but that's another
story.
Em Tasol
John Douglas
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John Douglas writes WWII wreck related
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