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Caroline Islands, Micronesia

Chuuk Lagoon (Truk)

Typical depth

35m

Type
Wreck
Typical depth
35 m
Level
Advanced
Visibility
15–30 m
Water temp
27–30 °C
Current
Mild
Access
Permit required
Min cert
Advanced Open Water
  • Wreck Graveyard
  • Penetration
  • War Grave
  • Artefacts In Situ
  • Liveaboard Typical
  • Overhead Environment

When to dive

BestAvoidOK

Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon holds the wrecks of the Japanese Combined Fleet sunk during Operation Hailstone, 17–18 Feb 1944 — roughly 40 vessels (2 light cruisers, 4 destroyers, ~32 merchants and auxiliaries) and 250+ aircraft on the lagoon floor. Dry season (Dec–Apr) brings the calmest crossings; rainy season (Jul–Sep) drops viz. The entire lagoon is a designated war grave — undisturbed-remains protocol applies; recreational penetration permitted on most hulls but artefact removal is forbidden.

7.4167° N, 151.7833° E

Notes

Japanese WWII fleet sunk by Operation Hailstone, Feb 1944.

Marine life

Macro
nudibranchs, crocodilefish
Sharks
grey reef shark (outside lagoon), whitetip reef shark
Pelagics
barracuda, jacks
Reef fish
lionfish, batfish, snapper, grouper
Invertebrates
coral and sponge encrusted holds, anemones on superstructure

Wreck

Vessel
Fujikawa Maru (most-dived hull; lagoon holds ~40 wrecks)
Class
refrigerated cargo ship, requisitioned as auxiliary armed aircraft transport/ferry
Origin
Empire of Japan
Sunk
1944 — hit by US carrier bombers and torpedo bombers during Operation Hailstone, 17–18 Feb 1944; sank ~07:15 on 18 Feb
Length
133 m
Penetration
Possible — with training

Dive clubs that visit this site

Sources

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