Wreck of the Chikuzen
Jim, Nick, Melanie, and Wayne dive the The Wreck of the Chikuzen
A 246 ft refrigeration vessel originally built in Shimizu, Japan, she was part of the fishing fleet in St Maarten. The propeller of the Chikuzen had been damaged in a storm 2 years prior and so she was moored at the fishing fleet dock, apparently causing quite a bit of damage to the dock. The owners were afraid that she might cause further damage or break free and drift up onto the beach. She was intentionally set ablaze off the docks in St Maarten, but this stubborn vessel refused to sink, eventually reaching the BVI, threatening to beach itself on the small island of Marina Cay. She was taken under tow and eventually sank (1981) without threatening any further coastlines !
Situated 12 miles NW of Virgin Gorda surrounded by miles of sand. Regular visitors include schooling barracuda, horse-eye jacks and snapper; stingrays; eagle rays; African pompano; Atlantic spadefish; nurse sharks and black tip reef sharks.
Oct 10, 2009
Photos: 27
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