Truk Lagoon - liveaboard

Truk Lagoon

Chuuk state consists of seven major island groups lying within the Eastern Caroline Islands, southeast of Guam and southwest of Hawaii.

The Pacific is a place of dreams. The name alone conjures up visions of endless sunny days and a blue horizon stretching out to infinity. Yet it is not just the paradise surface side that draws us here. The Pacific is a diver's delight and beneath the waves are unimaginable sights. Not least of these is Truk Lagoon. Located in the middle of the expansive ocean this mystical lagoon is shaped like an o-ring, clearly visible from the sky.

During the Second World War the Japanese Imperial Fleet used Truk to hide their forward anchorage. Then in 1944 the Americans flew in and bombed the fleet into annihilation. The end result is that today there are over 60 ships and in excess of 250 airplanes that sank - many of which are complete and dive able. The perpetual warm water, lush corals and thriving marine life keep divers coming back for more.

Jacques Cousteau first catapulted Truk to fame in 1971 when he and his team broadcast the first images to the world. Since then divers have travelled to Truk to see for themselves this incredible treasure trove. Over 40 wrecks are currently dived in Truk, ranging from shallow recreational ships to the deeper vessels that lure technical divers.

The wrecks are remarkably intact although their cargos are nearly as fascinating as the ships themselves. The holds are packed with all manner of munitions, trucks and airplane parts. Delve into the intact engine rooms or take in the stark reminders of the human lives that were lost. Divers can roam through gantries and across companionways in current free conditions. The water is always warm, the visibility crystal clear and there is a vast biodiversity that smothers the decks. Occasional sharks and rays accompany over 250 species of reef fish. There is something for everyone in Truk, no matter what your experience. Wreck diving will never be quite the same again.

Thorfinn

Plunge in to warm clear waters of Truk Lagoon and discover the wonder-world of wrecks and treasures hidden below its smooth surface. Aboard Thorfinn you will never be far from any dive site, as the ship moves around this vast lagoon, giving great flexibility and convenient alongside diving. Running two custom designed fast dive launches, Thorfinn provides the most variety and accessibility to all of Truk Lagoon, diving 30 or more wrecks in just one week aboard.

Eleven air conditioned staterooms accommodate 22 guests in double occupancy. All have in room vanities, TV’s and DVD players, indirect lighting and full length closets. Eight rooms located on ‘D’ and ‘E’ decks have double or queen size beds plus adjacent single berths. Private showers and toilets are fitted in each of these rooms. Three additional rooms on ‘C’ deck are bright and spacious with two shared shower rooms and two shared toilets.

Dedicated dining lounge on ‘D’ deck provides seating for 22 guests. Friendly dining room staff serve breakfast cooked to order and other meals a la carte. Two chefs create a variety of delicious meals and daily fresh baked goods, with attention paid to all dietary needs.
An additional bookcase here houses overflows of the many books in the library and out of meal times, this is a quiet place to work on photos, or play a lively game of cards!

A spacious comfortably furnished ‘C’ deck salon features a multi system Plasma TV with DVD player, a CD player with IPOD connection, and a surround sound 4 way speaker system. A well stocked DVD and paperback book library, magazine rack, reference books (fish, wrecks) are all available for guest use. Large view windows and comfortable seating make this a popular guest area.
The bar provides a range of beverages – from coffee, tea, hot chocolate and soft drinks, to beers, wines and spirits at reasonable cost.

This spa deck located across from the main guest lounge is favoured after a dive, or late at night with both south and northern constellations in clear view. The hot tub seats 12 persons and the powerful jets can help to massage away any aches or strains at the end of a busy dive day.

The sundeck is popular through the day between dives. An overhead shade canopy provides cool shade while reading a book or enjoying a magnificent view of the beautiful surrounding islands.

Odyssey

Odyssey has six cabins double cabins with a king or twin beds, two private single rooms and one room with a double/twin bunk. All rooms have en-suite facilities, air conditioning controls and DVD player.

Meals are served in the large dining area and with spacious windows surrounding this entire area of the boat, guests can sit and enjoy viewing the beauty of the islands in Truck Lagoon. A separate entertainment lounge is also available with DVD/ TV and stereo, as well as a library and bar.

Behind the dining area is a sun deck with lounge and deck chairs. This is also where divers meet for the dive briefings.

During your stay in Truk Lagoon you will find that the majority of your diving will easily be done directly off the Odyssey while moored over the dive site. Once you arrive and set up your gear in your own private seat and protected dive locker, you won't have to take your gear apart until you prepare to go home. Your tank (air or Nitrox) will be conveniently filled at your seat.
For photographers there is a large, sturdy, 3-tiered, carpeted photo table for all your working needs.

Technical Specifications

Length 40 m
Beam 7.3 m
Cabins Six staterooms with either king size or 2 twin beds. Two private single staterooms.
One stateroom with a double/twin bunk
Guests 16
Tenders 7.5 m custom aluminum with twin 115 Yamaha four stroke outboards, 6 m aluminum with 40 hp Yamaha outboard
Electronics 2 x Furuno Radar (24 nautical miles), GMDSS equipped for Sea Area A3, 2 x VHF Radio, 2 x Single side band radio, Magellan GPS, Furuno GPS, Furuno Depth Sounder, Compass
Furuno weatherfax, Comnav Autopilot
Cruising Speed 9 knots
A/C Throughout
Safety Equipment life rafts, buoys and jackets with indicator light, flares, rockets, radar transponders, ship security alarm system, ship security plan

Dive sites

Dive sites in Truk Lagoon

Aikoku Maru
The Aikoku Maru is a large combined freighter/passenger liner, resting on an even keel. The holds are empty and the Midship superstructure has collapsed. Penetration of this wreck is strongly discouraged. The first hold aft held troop quarters but has been cleared of the remains. A large anti-aircraft gun is located on top of the aft deckhouse.

Depth: Superstructure 40 m Deck 49 m Bottom 64 m
Size: Length 150 m Gross Tonnage: 10,437 tons

Amagisan Maru
A combined passenger/cargo ship, the Amagisan Maru suffered torpedo and bomb damage. It lies on sloping bottom with the stern deeper than the bow. Hold #2 contains a car and other cargo and there is a photogenic bow gun. The superstructure and particularly the pilot house area is interesting to explore.

Depth: Superstructure 31 m Deck 37 m Bottom 61 m
Size: Length 136 m Gross Tonnage: 7,620 tons

Freighter
Years ago when you saw a poster for Truk Lagoon, this small freighter was the featured wreck. The bow gun was the most recognizable part of the wreck and snorkelers could easily glide under the gun while posing for great photos. The ship was hit by two large bombs and most of it is demolished.

Depth: Superstructure 1m Deck 9 m Bottom 21 m
Size: Length 60 m Gross Tonnage: 998 tons

Fujikawa Maru
The most popular wreck in Truk Lagoon, the Fujikawa Maru is a must dive. Whether your interest is in artifacts or marine life this wreck has it. An abundant growth of soft & hard corals, anemones, & crinoids make the ship & particularly the bow & stern guns very photogenic. All the holds contain cargo but a unique attraction lays in hold #2. There you will find five relatively untouched and intact Zero fighters. The engine room is very interesting but requires special diving skills to visit.

Depth: Superstructure 9 m Deck 18 m Bottom 34 m
Size: Length 132 m Gross Tonnage: 6,938 tons

Fujisan Maru
The Fujisan Maru is rarely visited because of the depth. Depth to the shallowest part is the mid-ship railing at 115 feet. There isn't much marine growth except some coral and sponge which appears on the railings, pipe bridge and lifeboat davits.

Depth: Superstructure 37 m Deck 46 m Bottom 52-61 m
Size: Length 149 m Gross Tonnage: 9,524 tons

Gosei Maru
The Gosei Maru is also known as the "Stern-High Wreck". The depth ranges from 8 feet at the stern to 100 feet at the bow. The propeller and rudder area on this ship can occupy a photographer for an entire dive! Artifacts discovered on this wreck include sake and beer bottles along with beautiful china pieces. Torpedo bodies and separate warheads can be found in some of the holds.

Depth: Superstructure 2.5 m Bottom 31 m
Size: Length 82 m Gross Tonnage: 1,931 tons

Hanakawa Maru
The Hanakawa Maru was loaded with a cargo of aviation gas and was set on fire by a torpedo. Traces of fire damage can be seen on the bridge. This ship is located a few hundred yards from shore near the south east end of Tol Island. Marine growth, hard and soft corals & fan corals are thick here. A telegraph can be found near the center top of the bridge superstructure. There are a fair amount of artifacts still on the ship.

Depth: Superstructure 15 m Deck 23 m Bottom 34 m
Size: Length 112 m Gross Tonnage: 4,739 tons

Heian Maru
This former passenger/cargo luxury liner was converted to use as a submarine tender. Laying on its port side, its name, in both Kanji & English characters, is a great photo opportunity. Entering the forward hold through the specially modified hatch cover over one dozen 24 in./60 cm. diameter Long Lance torpedoes can be found. Periscopes lay in two companionways on levels below & aft of the bridge.Many artifacts can be found throughout this wreck.

Depth: Hull 40 12 m Bottom 36 m
Size: Length 155 m Gross Tonnage: 11,614 tons

About the diving

Diving in Truk Lagoon is an adventure you will never forget. WWII wrecks are scattered across 199 km2. The wrecks are covered with life. There are over 300 varieties of hard and soft corals. On the outer reef you'll find mountains of coral that stretch as far as the eye can see, and drops off into the abyss. Here it is not unusual to see pelagic sharks. This is also where we do our exciting shark dive.
The average water temperature is 28 degrees celcius. The visibility ranges from 9 to 30 metres depending on where you are in the lagoon and there is little current.

A typical dive day on Odyssey

Since each day aboard the boat offers new adventures, no day is really typical. Schedule will vary depending on the location and weather.

The day begins after a 7:00 a.m. hot breakfast with your first dive briefing around 7:45. You will be able to do two dives before lunch. During lunch the boat normally moves to a new site. After lunch you have the option to either do another dive, or relax on the sundecks, or in the privacy of your own cabin. A late afternoon dive is also offered.
Around 18:30 a sumptuous dinner will be waiting for you. After dinner you may choose to do a night dive. At night, guests usually gather in the entertainment lounge to enjoy a movie, or review what was captured that day on video.

Since most of the dive sites in Truk Lagoon are fairly close to each other, it is easy to move around. The best part about diving aboard Odyssey is that everyone does not have to dive at the same time. It is not unusual for you and your dive buddy to be the only divers on a 152 m wreck! For photographers, this offers more opportunities to shoot those popular scenes without having to wait for others to move out of the way.

Chuuk Travel info

Travel info - Chuuk

Time: GMT +10

Currency: United States Dollar, though major credit cards are widely accepted

Language: English

Visa: Not required for stays less then 30 days

Health: There are no tropical diseases and health care is readily available. Each of the FSM states has a modern major hospital.

Electricity: Standard 110 volt and US type outlets are used.

Climate: Located just 7 degrees north of the equator, the climate is tropical. The average air temperature is 28 degrees celcius and the average water temperature is 29 degrees celcius.

Seasons: Dry season is between December and April. Rainy season is between April and December.

Dress: Casual clothing is acceptable on the boat and in the resort. Women should wear a skirt or longer shorts to cover the thighs when visiting the local villages.

Airport Departure Fee: 20 USD (can change without prior notice)

Recompression Chamber: There is a privately owned modern recompression chamber on the island situated approximately 45 mins drive from the hospital. However there is no diving doctor here, so all diagnoses have to be made over the phone with a very experienced Australian diving doctor. Once he makes a diagnosis the team at the chamber carries out the treatment.
Treatment is expensive and we strongly recommend all divers have specific diving insurance.

Tailor-made

Sometimes you may find you are looking for something out of the ordinary - a dive trip with a difference designed only for you.

The knowledgeable travel team are all divers who can help put together an individual package that works. We can take care of every detail, from flights and transfers, to accommodation and diving. If you need a different departure airport, a longer or shorter stay, or want to adjust an existing package to fit you, we can help. We can also add overland extensions in many of our existing destinations.

Even if you cannot find your ideal holiday destination amongst our current product range, why not give the team a call. We listen to what you want and know all the right contacts to get your trip organised - anywhere in the world.

Recommendations:

combine one week on a liveaboard with a few days of shorebased diving on Truk
combine one week on a liveaboard in Truk Lagoon with one week in either Palau or Yap
combine one week on a liveaboard in Truk Lagoon with one week in Puerto Galera, Philippines