Chuuk Lagoon formerly known as Truk Lagoon is Micronesia’s incredible undersea phenomena and the finest wreck diving destination in the World.

Located in between Hawaii and the Philippines, Micronesia consists of over 2000 tiny tropical islands covering over 3 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Micronesia is the collective name for the 8 island groups- Guam, Republic of Palau, the Marianas, Pohnpei, Yap, the Marshalls, Kosrae and Truk (Chuuk). Unarguably Micronesia is unrivaled as being one of the best dive destinations in the World and Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon the ultimate wreck diving destination of them all.

The heart of the World War 2 activities between America and Japan, the Japanese set their naval base in Micronesia’s Truk Lagoon with often more than 1,000 merchant and war ships moored there ready for deployment. The venue of many fierce encounters during the WW2, now more than 100 ships, planes and submarines rest in the crystal clear lagoon waters of the Chuuk Atolls.

In the 56 years since an entire Japanese fleet sank to the lagoon floor, representing the largest naval loss in history, the warm tropical waters, prolific marine life and ocean currents have transformed the wrecks into breathtakingly beautiful coral gardens and artificial reefs. A Mecca to Scuba divers all over the world, nowhere else can you witness so many wrecks in close proximity brimming with exotic marine animals and fish. In waters so shallow and clear you can snorkel and see them, some of these wrecks remained upright, some intact and some in pieces full of their cargo, each with its own history and unique structure.
* Above photos by mattk1979, chemanyulo on flickr

Here’s a look at some wrecks considered among the best wreck dives in Chuuk Lagoon and around the World:

Fujikawa Maru

* Photo by: mmichishiro on flickr

Of the many wrecks to choose from the 7,000 ton freighter Fujukawa Maru is notable as one of the best and even makes it on our list of the World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives. This specific wreck stands upright in shallow water, making the 437 ft wreck pretty accessible. Ranging from a depth of 30- 112ft (9-34 m), the bow & stern guns very photogenic. The bridge area with sake bottles, the engine room and wings in the hold is covered in soft coral and  is frequently circled by grey reef makes this a exciting wreck to dive.

Shinkoku Maru

* photo by amell on flickr

Another wreck high on the best wrecks list is the Shinkoku Maru. Built as a commercial tanker, but converted to fleet oiler in 1941, this is one of the prettiest wrecks in Truk with the most colorful soft corals adorning the wreck. Upright in about 38 meters of water, 12 meters to the top of the bridge and 20 meters to the main deck, the Shinkoku Maru makes a great night dive site with all the coral even growing on the masts that go up nearly to the surface. Of this well preserved vessel, the bridge and engine room are very interesting heavily encrusted with life. The ship has a bow and stern gun which are intact and a torpedo hole on the Port Side through which the engine room is accessible.

Sankisan Maru

* photo by mattk1979 on flickr.

A freighter that contained aircraft engines, medical supplies & several trucks, the Sankisan Maru is a popular and frequently visited dive site. Even though the aft of the ship had a huge amount of damage, the stern stands upright and sits 200m away from the rest of the ship. The masts are covered in pretty coral and fish with large anemones anchored to debris on the deck. Not a very deep site ranging between 50-80 feet makes it easily accessible for all levels of divers and it’s location in the lagoon protects it from bad weather.The Holds contain zero engines, bullets, a few medicine bottles and assorted spare parts. The remains of lorries are also seen on deck.

Rio De Janeiro Maru

* Photo by: mmichishiro on flickr

A luxury passenger liner later converted to cargo vessel, Th Rio De Janeiro Maru was 141 m (463 feet) long and held supplies ranging from beer bottles to guns and other military supplies. The ship now lies on its starboard side with its deck only 15 meters from the surface. It’s twin engines, the screws & rudder offer an excellent photo opportunity, as does the large 6 in/15 cm stern gun.

Lying 18 miles east of Point Pleasant beach New Jersey,  half of the Stolt Dagali  a 583 foot, 19,150 ton Norwegian steel hulled tanker lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and attracts thousands of Scuba divers each year and is considered one of the best Jersey Shore wreck dives.

In November 1964 while carrying a cargo of vegetable and coconut oil  from Philadelphia to Newark, N.J., the Stolt Dagali collided due to dense fog with a 629 foot, Israel passenger luxury liner S.S. Shalom, which was bound for the Caribbean and sailing recklessly through the fog. The Shalom’s bow crashed into and sliced neatly through the Stolt Dagali’s port side sheering off her stern.  The Dagali’s 145 foot stern sank immediately killing 19 crew members instantly while they lay asleep in the stern section. The bow section, which stayed afloat due to her watertight compartments, was towed back to the port of New York and several crew members survived.

Today the 145 foot stern section of the Stolt rests in 130 feet of water, with its highest point at a depth of just 65 feet. The wreck is simply stunning to observe up close and the waters surrounding it offer good visibility usually between 30-50 feet. This allows both novices and advanced Scuba Divers to appreciate the wreck, with the more adventurous being able to penetrate the wreck and explore the interiors and search for artifacts.  The Wreck itself lies  on its starboard side at a 30 degree list and has deteriorated considerably over time with its smoke stack crumbling and body gradually crumbling and covered with an array of mussels and anemones. However with the majority of it still intact, divers can dive several sections of the ship and explore the propeller screws and rudder sections that lie nearby.

The waters off New Jersey are cold, and divers require cold water scuba diving equipment; dry suits or full wet suits with hoods only during the summer months May to September.

Lobsters are prolific around the wreck making lobstering a popular wreck dive activity, and apart from them, divers can spot several schools of cod, tuna, sea turtles and sharks in and near the wreck.

Divers can get to the wreck by local dive charter boats that offer comprehensive pre-dive briefings and layout of the wreck allowing divers to get familiar with the various diveable portions. It is also advisable to learn of the history of the collision and the stories re told by the survivors of the Dagli, which add that bit of significance to your dive.

Overall the Stolt Dagali is a must dive wreck for anyone brave enough to dive in the cold Atlantic  waters around New Jersey ,with its rich history, fascinating stories of survival, hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreckage, fascinating aquatic life and  large penetrable sections, the site offers no opportunity for excuses not to visit.

Photos by: poddiverradio

Off the coast of Pensacola Florida, lies the former US Navy Aircraft carrier the USS Oriskany, after having served the US Navy in both Korea and Vietnam, the 900 foot, 30,000 ton carrier decommissioned in 1976 was deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 as part of a pilot program which aimed to create artificial reefs.  Apart from being one of the first navy ships to be used to create an artificial reef, the Oriskany is also the largest artificial reef in the world created by sinking a ship. The Navy spent around 20 million dollars to clear up and make the ship environmentally friendly and accessible and safe to divers.

Nicknamed “the Great Carrier Reef”, The USS Oriskany sits upright in 212 feet of water and rises almost 164ft from the seabed, just over 20 meters below the surface and the breathtaking flight deck at 140 feet (40 m).  The wreck Is now home to abundant marine life such as  amber jacks, red snapper, groupers, dolphins and sharks. Large Barracuda often circle ominously around the towering superstructure keeping a watchful eye on divers as they make their way to the wreck.

The  wreck is a dive for the more intermediate to advanced divers as reaching the site is quite challenging due to the strong currents. It is advisable to be fully briefed with the layout and carry the necessary Scuba diving equipment such as a dive light before making the dive. Vigilance is key as there’s a lot of things that you could hit your head on, or snag equipment. Equally important is monitoring your depth constantly as it is easy to get carried away in the superstructure. For those that can, Nitrox is recommended to be able to fully appreciate the sheer size of this wreck.

There are numerous dive operators in Pensacola that offer dives to the wreck, but choose one that handles smaller batches and lays greater emphasis to safety and briefings as there are several thousands of divers that make this dive each year often being herded to the site packed in overcrowded dive boats. Also try to ensure that you descend to the superstructure area where there is a lot more to see, or you’ll be in for a long swim trying to span those football field sized flight decks.

One way to make the trip more memorable is to ensure you do some research on the ship to understand the history of the vessel before you dive and I’m sure this dive will leave you somewhat speechless.

After a decade of planning and an $8.6 million, the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg was finally sunk on May 27 and is now a public dive site. The Vandenberg is on it’s way to becoming the second largest internationally sunk artificial reef in the world.

Built as transport for US Army troops the USS General Harry Taylor was later renamed USAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 1963 after it was transferred to the US Navy. She was converted to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship used to track missiles and space flights and finally decommissioned in 1983 after a good long run. The ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration in 99 and got approval to be sunk to create an artificial reef in Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Sunk recently on the 27th of May this 524-foot-long ship now lies at 140 feet, just 7 miles south of Key West. With the top most part of the Ship at 40 feet the wreck will be accessible to all kinds of divers. Minutes after the 44 explosive charges went off sending this beauty to it’s final resting place a pod of dolphins, barracudas and a turtle checked out the new arrival, a sign of a promising future reef and a divers delight for many years to come.

So if you haven’t yet got a glimpse of this brand new artificial reef here’s a look at the scuttling of the General Hoyt S. Vandenberg little over a month back-

* Photo (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Nothing gets the attention of divers like a sunken wreck. The allure of wreck diving has drawn many divers into choosing it as a specialty. And what’s not to like about a wreck dive? It’s more than just a dip into the water to look at the little fishies. It’s a chance of viewing a part of history, a vision of something unnatural, a work of mankind so as to speak that over years has become a part of the natural underwater environment and is home to hundreds of different marine species since their watery demise.  With thousands of sunken ships and boats spread across the oceans, few stand out as exceptional diving sites. Here’s a look at the Top 10 Wrecks to Dive in the World-

10. SMS Markgraf, Scapa Flow, Scotland

The Scapa Flow body of water famous for the German Navy Vessels scuttled in fear of being captured is quite a diving delight with the remains of 7 of the 78 ships under Scapa Flow waters today.  The Markgraf is one of three Konig class battleships to see in the area but is arguably the most accessible due to being at a depth of only 24 meters. This 26,000 ton battle ship with 177 meters in length has its hull opened up, allowing the diver a unique view into the torpedo room and a swim right through the stern. The immense size of the wreck makes it difficult to cover in one dive and it can be dived on two levels.

9. Umbria, Wingate Reef, Sudan

This 1912 German freighter turned Italian cargo ship scuttled just off the coast of Sudan, to avoid capture by the British offers great marine life without the crowds making it a great wreck to dive.  The Umbria at an impressive 400ft offers more than just the ship itself. At the time it was sunk the ship went down with a huge loot of cargo- 360,000 aircraft bombs, Fiat cars and its lifeboats are strewn. Put simply, the wreck has sufficient features and associated marine life to keep any diver busy for days on end. There is the propeller, the cars inside the hold, the cavernous space of the engine room, the ghostly remains of the galley, and the intact railings covered in bright red sponges. This is the only wreck in the Red Sea to rival the Thistlegorm which we’ve rated at No.2

8. Zenobia, Larnaca Bay, Cyprus

10 minutes from Larnaca, Zenobia the 10,000 ton ferry sunk on its maiden voyage in 1980 after something went terribly wrong with its computers. Luckily for divers this Swedish Roll-on/Roll-off ferry was carrying more than 120 vehicles, including articulated lorries, when she sank in 130ft of water. With good diving for all experience levels, one can opt for a relatively simple 16 meter dive or a more complex and advanced dive to the lower car deck if you’re are an experienced scuba diver. There is plenty of sea life from Sea bream, grouper and even barracuda but most memorable is the huge ferry that has an almost eerie ‘ghost ship’ feel to it. Several dives later and you’ll still not be able to do justice to this wreck.

7. MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, Cayman Islands

This 330-foot Russian frigate brought deliberately from Cuba and sunk off the coast of Cayman Brac in Sept. 1996 to form an artificial reef is an absolute pleasure to dive.  Snappers, nudibranchs and moray eels have taken up residence in the ship, which storms have now broken in two making it easier to access for divers. The canons fore and aft as well as the wheel house tower are major draws to this dive site.

6. SS Yongala, off coast of Ayr, Australia

This enchanting Australian passenger ship lying within the Great Barrier Reef Park lay undercover for over half a century since it sank in a cyclone in 1911. Today home to giant groupers, schools of trevally, cobia, turtles and sweeping rays among plenty of others, the ship, only a 30minute journey from the shore is known as one of the top wreck dive sites in the world to dive.

…Continued in World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives (Part-II)

If you’ve missed numbers 10 to 6 of our World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives check it out here: World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives (Part-I)

5. Blackjack B17, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea

The Blackjack, a B17 military bomber aircraft made by Boeing is not your usual wreck dive. The flying fortress that now lies about 45 meters deep and the sandy sea bed just off the coast of Papua New Guinea after a bombing mission in Japan. Still intact despite its not so smooth landing, divers can inspect the cockpit, turret guns amidst groupers and other fish. The seats are in place and you can quite easily visualize the pilot and co-pilot in the closing moments of this tough airplane’s war history. Papua New Guinea’s crystal clear waters and this mint condition aircraft wreck make it a topnotch spot to experience.

4. Fujikawa Maru, Truk, Micronesia

Truk Lagoon, Micronesia is a definite must on any serious wreck divers list. It holds the remains of the almost an entire Japanese fleet including 60 shipwrecks and dozens of sunken air crafts destroyed in 1944. Of these many wrecks to choose from the 7,000 ton freighter Fujukawa Maru is notable as one of the best. This specific wreck stands upright in shallow water, making the 437ft wreck pretty accessible. The bridge area with sake bottles, the engine room and wings in the hold covered in soft coral and frequently circled by grey reef makes this a exciting wreck to dive.

3. USS Oriskany, Pensacola, Florida

The former US Navy Aircraft carrier now holds the record as the largest artificial reef in the world. After having served the US Navy in both Korea and Vietnam, the 900 foot, 30,000 ton carrier was deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 as part of a pilot program which aimed to create artificial reefs. The Oriskany lies upright and rises almost 164ft from the seabed, just over 20 meters below the surface making it perfect for both new recreational divers as well as more experienced divers with its flight deck at 40 meters. Apart from the wreck itself th sightings of tuna, grouper and amber jack make this a great dive site.

2. Thistlegorm, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Arguably one of the most famous wreck dive destinations and also the busiest in the world, the Thistlegorm is a British Merchant Navy ship that was sunk by German bombers in WWII. The 400ft long container ship filled with motorbikes, Bedford trucks and even Lee Enfield rifles sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines giving divers an inside display of the ships merchandise. This Red Sea dive site has got plenty to see both inside and out  with plenty of marine life around. Sightings of hammer-heads, jacks, trevallies and huge napoleon wrasses are reported here. The only drawback is the site’s busy nature and it’s often said that 20 dive boats are stationed above the wreck with its divers exploring it below.

1. SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu

One of the largest, most accessible wrecks in the world, the SS President Coolidge is a wreck diver’s dream. This massive luxury liner, built in 1931 converted into a Second World War troop ship is more than 600ft long and divers can explore it on both shallow and deep dives. To see the whole ship in all its majestic splendor sitting at the bottom on the sea bed would require at least 10 dives. What you can expect to see other than the ship itself are heaps of military gear including howitzer cannons, a 10-wheel General Motors Corporation truck, jeeps, tracked vehicles, steering wheels and tires.

If you’ve missed numbers 10 to 6 of our World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives check it out here: World’s Top 10 Wreck Dives (Part-I)