Fish 'n Fins - Dive Sites - Zero Plane

Location: East of Koror and northwest of Short Drop Off (near Mutremdiu Channel)
Distance from Koror: 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Koror. 10 minutes by speedboat.
Level of Diving Experience: Novice
Diving Depth Summary: 60 feet (20meters)
Visibility: 60 to 90 feet (20 to 30 meters).
Currents: Usually none.

General Information:
Type: Mitsubishi A6M Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter Plane. Engine: Could be one of several types: Mitsubishi Zuisei 13-780 hp, Nakajima NK1C Sakae 12-940 hp, Nakajima NK1F Sakai 21-1,130 hp, or a Mitsubishi MK8P Kinsei 62-1,560 hp engine.
Length: 29.9 feet (9.1 meters).
Wingspan: 39 feet (11.88 meters).

Mitsubishi “Zero” or “Zeke” was Japan’s most popular and lethal airplane during WWII. Between 1937 and 1945 11,500 were built. This airplane, appears to be an A6M5 model of the “Zero”, it is resting upside down in 60 feet of water on a sandy sloping bottom. The plane is in a very good condition and is seldom visited by divers. The propellers are not bent, indicating the engine was not operating when the pilot ditched the aircraft.


Reef Formation: There are a variety of hard and soft corals in the area.

Marine life: Large schools of sweepers have made a home in the fuselage of the plane. Marble rays are often seen resting in the sand.
Diving: The dive site is not marked. The Dive Guide will locate the plane by looking for and locating selected landmarks.

Fascinating Facts: The airplane was officially named, “Type Zero Carrier-Based Fighter, Model 11”, taking the last digits of the Japanese year for its name. “Zero” was the Japanese abbreviation of the official name. The term “Zeke” was the name adopted by the Allies.

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