People go scuba diving for various reasons. Some divers are primarily interested in the natural beauty of coral reefs, some in the animals that call this environment home, and others in wrecks and their history. Whether you like underwater life or shipwrecks, diving in Truk Lagoon should be on your bucket list. Here are 4 reasons why!
1. Truk Lagoon is a wreck paradise
With the help of local knowledge, Jacques Cousteau popularised some of the wrecks on the bottom of Truk Lagoon wrecks in the 70s. Since this happened, the remains of the Imperial Japanese Navy have been considered one of the great undersea wonders of the world. Not only that, but it’s an unparalleled experience for divers.
The wrecks all share the same historical value, but each one has its unique character and story, so it would be very difficult for you to pick one that stands out over another. Nowhere else in the world are there so many interesting wrecks in close proximity, situated in clear shallow water.
It’s a common misconception about wreck diving in Truk Lagoon that it’s only suitable for technical divers. In fact, many of the wrecks are well within recreational depths, from 10 to 30 meters (30 to 100 feet). Some are even visible while snorkelling! There are also very interesting deeper wrecks for the techies; anywhere in the 45 to 60 metre (150 to 200 foot) range. There is something here for all divers!
Wrecks for tech divers: Nippo Maru, San Francisco Maru, Aikoku Maru, Hoki Maru.
Wrecks for recreational divers: Heian Maru, Sankisan Maru, Fujikawa Maru, Kensho Maru, Shinkoku Maru and Rio de Janeiro Maru.
2. Corals and marine life
For those of you who love to see the pretty stuff, Truk is also a destination that should be on your list. Ships and plane wrecks caused by war are much more than hunks of rusting metal. Shipwrecks also attract marine life, creating their own ecosystem. Once the scene of death and destruction, they are now the basis of growth and life.
The fauna and flora are abundant on and around the wrecks, and a wide variety of sharks can often be seen in the vicinity of the wrecks. Expect blacktip sharks, whitetip sharks, eagle rays, eels, clownfish, plenty of macro animals and even dolphins. An incredible kaleidoscope of colourful corals will also attract your attention.
3. Excellent diving conditions
The diving conditions in Truk Lagoon really couldn’t be better. The waters are calm and warm, around 28°-29°C (82°- 85°F). There are no thermoclines and currents are minimal. And since most of the wrecks sit on white sand, there is plenty of light. Visibility typically is around 30 metres (100 ft).
4. The historical monuments of Truk Lagoon
Once sunk, the wrecks turned into time capsules. When exploring the wrecks, it’s fascinating to see these vivid underwater museums. To this day, the presence of so many sailor’s personal belongings induces respect and gives the diver a different perspective on navy battle history.
The amount of destruction that occurred during Operation Hailstone is hard to describe. No matter how many history books you read, true perspective is elusive until you see it for yourself.
Truk Lagoon is often referred to as ‘Wreck divers’ paradise’, which is a well-deserved title. With so many large wrecks and so much to discover on each of them, it’s a destination avid divers could visit several times and still not see everything.
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