Nanshin Maru (Black Island Wreck)

The Black Island wreck commonly called Nanshin

MDI Divers places the wreck called Nanshin Maru by Black Island and describes an upright vessel on sand. The local name is useful for arranging an outing, but it should not be treated as a settled identification of a particular wartime ship.

Identity remains uncertain

MDI describes a tanker. Sangat Island Dive Resort instead describes a postwar Philippine vessel and classifies it as a fishing vessel. Pirates Diving Resort also warns about historical naming confusion. This partial guide preserves those differences and does not merge the wreck with similarly named ships reported elsewhere.

Published depth accounts differ

MDI, Sangat and Pirates report 21–32 m. Rocksteady’s October 2019 site account instead places the bow at 34 m and the stern around 20 m. The maximum remains disputed; these measurements are not interchangeable dive plans. Confirm the intended exterior route, conditions and required experience with the operator; a description of beginner wreck diving does not establish suitability for every visitor.

Before arranging the trip

Confirm the departure base and travel arrangements specifically for Black Island. This review does not establish a reliable visibility forecast, current strength, species encounter frequency or present interior condition. Original vessel identity, service history and sinking date remain unresolved.

Reported exterior wildlife

MDI lists scorpionfish, lionfish, trumpetfish, groupers and batfish around the wreck. That offers a more specific picture of the operator's observations, but the page gives no sighting dates or frequency measurements. Its description of clear water is likewise an account of the site, not a forecast for a booked day.

Size and vessel type are reported differently

MDI describes a hull about 50 m long; Sangat describes 45 m remains. These measurements accompany differing tanker and postwar-vessel accounts. They are not combined into a single confirmed specification. The differences matter when comparing photographs or old trip reports: a familiar local wreck name alone does not settle its original construction, service or sinking history.

Travel descriptions depend on the departure base

Pirates describes Black Island as a separate day trip and gives an example itinerary with another wreck on the return. Treat that as the operator's published arrangement, not a current departure schedule, guaranteed pairing or travel time from every resort. Confirm which sites are actually included before arranging transport.

What the tanker account describes

MDI’s description goes beyond the tanker label: it describes separate small fuel tanks used to replenish depots on land. That explains the role the operator attributes to this vessel. It remains one interpretation alongside the postwar fishing-vessel account; the presence of a locally familiar name does not resolve the disagreement about the ship’s original purpose.