WAILUKU » A scuba tour operator says he believes he has found the submerged wreckage of a World War II-era U.S. Navy dive bomber in waters off Maui.

Brad Varney of B&B Scuba Maui said the aircraft appears to be a nearly intact Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, with the only detached part, the top tail rudder, resting on the sand not far away.

“;I'm an old military history buff, and it's in very good shape for 70 years old,”; he said.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maritime archaeologist and historian Hans Van Tilburg said naval records indicate only six Dauntlesses were lost in waters near Maui.

He said based on a photo by Varney, it appeared the coral-encrusted wreck had the distinctive cockpit shape of a Dauntless.

Van Tilburg planned to check crash records maintained by the Naval History and Heritage Command to learn more of the aircraft's history. The records could reveal whether the plane took off from an aircraft carrier or the Puunene Naval Air Station on Maui, and what happened to its pilot and gunner.

The fact that the wreck was almost intact and its canopies were open suggested the Dauntless did not crash, but instead was ditched in the ocean, something its crew may well have survived, he said.

“;It's a great chance to look at that period and also understand how much you can learn from an aircraft find like this,”; Van Tilburg said. “;It's kind of exciting stuff.”;

Varney said he learned of the wreck from a fisherman.

“;He was frustrated that the fish were 'hiding under the wings,'”; Varney said. “;I said, 'What wings?'”;

The man told him about the aircraft and drew a rough map to the site, and Varney went to check it out. What he found stunned him.

“;I've gone to Chuuk Lagoon (Federated States of Micronesia). I've gone to Palau to dive military wrecks, and this is in as good condition as any of them,”; he said. “;It's amazing.”;

The site probably had not been seen by anyone but fishermen because it was “;off the beaten path,”; in an area not frequented by divers, Varney said.

Varney would not identify the location of the sunken aircraft, saying he wanted to make sure the site was protected from looters. He said he was waiting for guidance from federal authorities.