Jim and Lynda Visit - Truk Lagoon

We returned to Truk Lagoon in April 2010, 10 years after our first visit.

Truk Lagoon is the site of undoubtedly the best wreck diving in the world with 47 identified wrecks of planes, submarines, freighters and destroyers. The lagoon is located around 1,500 miles east of Japan and 1000 miles north of Papua New Guinea in the Federal states of Micronesia. It was the home of the Japanese fleet destroyed by the United States in “Operation Hailstorm” on 17 February 1944. The wrecks are protected war graves and many artifacts lie in their original locations.

The remote location meant 4 flights after leaving London on Sunday night, taking in Hong Kong, Manila and Guam before finally arriving on Wednesday. Palm trees, air and water temperatures of 28C make it a great place to relax.

Diving is from small skiffs powered by twin 40HP outboards making the journey from our base at Blue Lagoon resort to the wreck sites on average about 25mins. The guides find the wrecks by transits, casually tossing the grapple hook over the side to then find it located in the middle of the wreck below.

Diving is on single 12 or 15 litre cylinders (no ponies), spare cylinders are hung under the boat and on the deeper dives of >40m the spare cylinders are taken to the wreck. Visibility ranged from 20m to 40m. Deco can be done on the shot line but is better done free hanging with no tides or currents to spoil the comfort of relaxing in the warm blue water. All those hours practicing buoyancy skills in the Basildon pool come in handy.

We have placed a selection of our many pictures in the photo gallery and below but please ask if you want to see more. You will see the ships and their guns, the trucks, tanks, ammunition, aircraft parts, saki bottles, gas masks, helms, telegraphs and portholes in place as well as the abundant coral growth covering these historic wrecks. The bomb and torpedo damage is clearly evident and in places the remains of the unfortunate Japanese sailors can still be seen.

A great experience.

Jim and Lynda