If you're an advanced wreck diver looking for an exciting dive site, then the Buoy #6 wreck in Malakal Channel, just 2 miles (3.5 km) from Koror, is an excellent choice. The wreck is a small fishing vessel that is resting upright near marker #6 at a depth of 80 feet (27 m), with the deck at 65 feet (21 m) deep. The hull is perpendicular to the southwest slope, and the bow is pointing northeast, offering excellent photographic opportunities.
Diving at Buoy #6 wreck requires careful planning, and it's essential to dive during slack tide for the best visibility, which is usually good during high tide. If you attempt to dive the wreck during low tide, visibility can be poor. The currents in the channel can be very swift, so diving should only be attempted during slack tide.
The wreck is overgrown with hard and soft corals and is home to many tropical fish, making it a vibrant and beautiful dive site. It was built with the engine amidships, and two sections of superstructure can be seen. A circular gun platform is mounted on the bow, but the gun is missing. The wreck was partially salvaged after the war and is deteriorating fast, with some of the hull’s plates falling.
The Malakal Channel, east of Koror, is one of two main channels that cut through the barrier reef and lead into the lagoon. The channel slopes down from 10 feet (3 m) (corals) to 70-80 feet (21-24 m) (sandy bottom), with a large variety of healthy corals on both slopes, including massive Gorgorian fans. Clusters of Black Sun Coral (Tubastraea Micrantha) decorate the sandy bottom around the wreck.
When diving at Buoy #6 wreck, your dive boat will be anchored close to channel marker #6 at 10 feet (3 m) of water. You will start your dive by swimming down the slope to the stern of the wreck, where you will see the corroded rudder. If the current is still running, find shelter on the leeward side of the wreck until slack tide arrives. As you explore the wreck, it's important to swim back to the stern section when leaving and then head to the southwest slope to ascend, as Malakal Channel is a busy waterway, and ascending in the middle of the channel is not safe.
In conclusion, the Buoy #6 wreck in Malakal Channel is an exciting and beautiful dive site that offers excellent photographic opportunities for advanced wreck divers. Careful planning is necessary, and diving should only be attempted during slack tide for the best visibility. So, if you're up for an adventure, be sure to check out Buoy #6 wreck on your next dive trip to Koror.