truk lagoon suggested dives to do recommendations?

[infernalzen]

hi,
i've booked 2weeks at truk blue lagoon resort next year.
to speed up some of my planning, does anyone have any truk experience/ recommendations of what dives that are "must do's"
e.g. if there are any out of the way dives that i shouldnt get talked out of...

i plan to complete extended range course later on this year.
+will be doing the diving open circuit +advanced nitrox.

ive got klaus lindermans "hailstorm over truk lagoon" as 300pages of light reading

[reef hook]

All the wrecks are superb, covered in sponges, soft and hard coral and teeming with fish life. The lagoon is spread over a large area and much will depend on whether you are land or livaboard based as distances to some of the wrecks is relativly long for the land based skiffs.
Nippo Maru Complete tank on top deck
Kensho Maru Triple expansion engine in wonderfull condition
Fuzikawa Maru Rifles, ammunition, gas masks etc in main hold
Shinkoku Maru Twin guns on deck, operating theatre and radio room
Riodejaneiro Maru Large deck guns, saki store.
Mitsubishi (Betty) bomber

You may have to do limited deco on some of these dives so check your insurance cover.

Fish life over the wrecks is stunning with big fish action including Silky sharks, shoaling Jackfish and shoaling Barracuda. If you like (!) real close multi shark action ask for a trip to Shark Island (for the first time a named site that lived up to it's name) and have an hour of Grey/B.T./W.T./Silky action. Our Guide spent the whole dive hiding behind us photoghraphers!!!

[infernalzen]

thanks for the reply.
i've booked 2weeks at truk blue lagoon resort, so take on board what you say about some wrecks locations.

i've got dan insurance that covers nitrox mixs to 50mr.
have to read futher on the deco limitations

[reef hook]

I really should read posts more carefully since you said you would stay at the Blue Lagoon (as did we) so you will dive by skiff. The skiffs take a maximum of 6 divers and you have the same skiff/driver/guide for your entire stay.Our guide was called Rio and you could not get a better diver to get you into the better wrecks.If another boat was on the site he would simply take us on to an alternative so we never dived with more than 7 people in the water at any one time.Maybe worth asking for him when you arrive but as stated he is very wary of sharks!!Hope you like cats......the Blue Lagoon has more hotel cats than I have ever seen before and the fights between the Toms arround the garden bar at dinner are awsome!!

[ootini]

Here is a video of the Heian Maru

YouTube - The Heian Maru - Truuk Lagoon

[Chardy]

Anything called a Maru was outstanding. I've been checking my log book.

The deepest we did was 56.4M on the San Fransisco Maru and the Aikoku Maru, all on air. We went to some wrecks twice as there was so much to see. the Fujikawa was a favourite as we penetrated deep into the workshop area at night.

The I-169 is a Sub, just a long metal tube and we dived the Futagami, a Tug which reminded me of any of the Portland Harbour wrecks, except a great engine room. I would'nt rush back to either of those.

As a book, try and get a copy of Dan E. Bailey's book, World War II Wrecks of TruK Lagoon, 533 pages, 251 pictures and 173 drawings

Enjoy it, its fantastic!!

[johnyd]

Our Truk Lagoon dive report

I thought it was so good I am going back this year too.

Here is a report from last year.

I hope you have a great time too

[infernalzen]

cheers for the replies guys

yeah i'm ok with cats, just as long as they keep their claws to themselves.
one other quandry, is my camera housings only rated at 45mr

[petemes]

Hi there,

You are doing the right thing by doing some preparation before you go to truk. What is common is that with diving so many wrecks in a short space of time they will all soon blend into eachother (morning maru and afternoon maru!!!!) This is a shame. Best thing is to invest in Dan Baileys book Shipwrecks of Truk lagoon. This guy has put a lot into this book and is without a doubt the best read and will prepare you well for the trip. I have a lot of information on my site on the wrecks we have been diving. truk lagoon wreck diving
Also heaps of pictures.

There you will get a feel for the ones you want to dive. But in all seriousness your first trip there will just be an orientation. In my opinion as long as you resign to the fact that you will come back to truk in the future you will have a better time (instead of trying to see everything in one trip - which is impossible) Truk is NOT a once in a lifetime place to visit. believe me!!!

Without a shadow of a doubt one of the best wrecks in Truk is The OITE - a kamikaze type Destroyer sitting in 60m. Its really hard to find but well worth it. Below is a shot of the wreck.


All the wrecks in the deeper anchorage off the eastern side of Dublon island are great wrecks, Viz is great.

San fransisco Maru 48m at deck level, 60m to sand




Also the deepest wreck in the lagoon - the Katsuragisan Maru. 70m to the sand.




You will have a great time.


Pete Mesley
truk lagoon wreck diving

hi,
i've booked 2weeks at truk blue lagoon resort next year.
to speed up some of my planning, does anyone have any truk experience/ recommendations of what dives that are "must do's"
e.g. if there are any out of the way dives that i shouldnt get talked out of...

i plan to complete extended range course later on this year.
+will be doing the diving open circuit +advanced nitrox.

ive got klaus lindermans "hailstorm over truk lagoon" as 300pages of light reading

[infernalzen]

cheers Pete,
when ive got a bit more technical experience under my belt, i think i'll be on one of your trips
the m26/din, o2 clean saga between europe +the rest of the world might be a bit clearer too LOL