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Wreck Diving

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Wreck diving in Chuuk Lagoon (formerly Truk Lagoon) is considered one of the greatest underwater adventures on Earth—a true "Mecca" for wreck divers. The lagoon is home to over 60 Japanese WWII shipwrecks, aircraft, and artifacts, preserved in eerily beautiful condition under warm, clear water.

 

 

Why Chuuk is a Top Wreck Diving Destination

  • Largest underwater WWII graveyard in the world.
  • Wrecks lie at varying depths (10 to 60+ meters), accessible to both recreational and technical divers.
  • Many wrecks are fully intact, with engines, tanks, ammunition, porcelain, gas masks, and even human remains.
  • Coral growth has transformed many wrecks into thriving artificial reefs.

 

 

Famous Wrecks to Dive

Wreck NameTypeDepthHighlights
Fujikawa MaruArmed cargo ship9–34 mZero fighter in cargo hold, machine tools, coral-covered bow gun
Shinkoku MaruOil tanker12–40 mOperating room, coral-encrusted deck, soft corals
San Francisco MaruArmed cargo50–65 mTanks, mines, trucks – "Million Dollar Wreck"
Heian MaruSub tender10–35 mMassive size, torpedoes, and propellers
Yamagiri MaruCargo ship18–30 mGiant shells, engine room exploration

 

 

Marine Life

  • Soft corals, sea fans, and sponges covering the wrecks.
  • Reef sharks, lionfish, groupers, schools of jacks and snappers.
  • Ideal for wide-angle and macro photography.

 

 

Top Dive Operators in Chuuk

 

1. Blue Lagoon Dive Shop

  • Location: Blue Lagoon Resort
  • Boats with experienced guides, nitrox available
  • Multi-day dive packages
  • bluelagoondiveresort.com

 

2. Truk Stop Dive Center

  • Location: Truk Stop Hotel
  • Offers full gear rentals, nitrox, and tech diving support
  • In-house dive lockers and photo facilities
  • trukstop.com

 

 

Dive Requirements

  • Open Water Certification minimum for shallower wrecks.
  • Advanced Open Water and Wreck Diver certification highly recommended.
  • Technical diving certifications (e.g., Trimix) required for deeper wrecks like San Francisco Maru.
  • Dive insurance (like DAN) is recommended.

 

 

Gear & Safety Tips

  • Bring your own dive computer and torch.
  • Use Nitrox if available for longer bottom times.
  • Be respectful—many sites are considered war graves.
  • Watch for sharp edges and entanglement hazards inside wrecks.

 

 

Underwater Photography

  • Some of the best wreck photo ops in the world.
  • Consider bringing wide-angle and macro lenses.
  • Great lighting helps inside wrecks—bring extra strobes if possible.

 

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