On my most recent trip to Chuuk I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do some diving in the lagoon. During WW II the Chuuk Lagoon (known then as the Truk Lagoon) served as the “forward anchorage” for the Imperial Japanese Navy. After capturing the Marshall Islands, the American forces launched Operation Hailstone on Feb 17, 1944. Over a three day period over 60 Japanese ships, including aircraft carriers and destroyers, were sunk.
Over the course of a weekend, I did four dives exploring wrecks that were in the shallower (less than 110 ft) water. On Saturday we entered a torpedo hole to explore the inside of one destroyed destroyer and in another ship we saw the remains of a truck chassis, glass jars, bullets, and a machine gun. In a freighter we explored on Sunday, the cargo hold was still filled with torpedoes and warheads.
The lagoon is a one-of-a-kind diving destination and there is a constant trickle of wreck dive enthusiasts and WWII history buffs who make their way there to dive. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint, Chuuk has not managed to develop itself as a major dive vacation destination. The lack of other divers makes for a pleasant experience. On each dive we had the ship to ourselves and enjoyed that wonderful sense of isolation. On the other hand, the lagoon could easily serve as the anchor for a tourism industry and provide the jobs and economic independence that the island needs.
No comments:
Post a Comment