Location

The wreck of this aeroplane, a Mitsubishi A6M3 Reisen, better known as Zero, lies on a dark sandy bottom at a depth of between 30 and 35 metres, less than 100 metres from the beach. This fighter could be one of the just under 300 Japanese planes shot down between October 1943 and March 1944 in the skies of Rabaul. The diving point is at the tip of Gazelle peninsula, in Blanche Bay, in front of the beach between Raluana Point and the main town of Kokopo. This location can be reached by sea or overland, as the road from Kokopo runs right to the beach.

History

The Zeros, considered one of the most famous fighting planes of the Second World War, were for a long time the symbol of Japanese air power. They first came into action in China in October 1940 and remained in use until the end of the war in the Pacific, commanded by Kamikaze pilots in their suicide attacks on the American fleet.

The aeroplane had a wingspan of 12 metres, was 9 metres long and weighed 1680 kilos when empty. Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 545 kilometres per hour, it was usually armed with two small 20 mm cannons installed in the wings and two 7.7 mm machine guns behind the engine hood. If needed it could also carry up to 120 kilograms of bombs. This plane’s exceptional manoeuvrability and its range gave the Japanese a distinct air supremacy for the first months of the war in the Pacific.

Dive

Starting from the beach, you dive above two reefs that stretch towards the sea. Once you have arrived at a depth of 15 metres you proceed southwards. The sandy bottom slopes quite gently and starfish abound. A cable fastened to the bottom leads to a depth of 30metres, where the outline of the wreck, lying on the seabed. A small moray lives with its leaner prawn in the metal of the tail and, intrigued by the arrival of strangers, will peek out of its hole. This dive is suited to all levels of experience.