Chuuk Lagoon (Truk Atoll), Micronesia
A technical SCUBA diving dream
If you could travel back through time to a pivotal moment in history, do you think you would go? Would you take in the sights with your own eyes if you could? Now, we all know that time travel isn’t an option today but the next best thing is available in Micronesia.
Chuuk Lagoon, previously known as Truk Atoll, is a dive site in Micronesia that holds major WWII historical significance which is amazingly preserved by the local marine conditions. The site is home to 51 sunken ships and almost a dozen aircraft. This heritage site is deep and challenging to explore but the rewards are well worth it for those who are willing to take on the technical diving of Chuuk Lagoon.
Why Choose Chuuk Lagoon?
Chuuk Lagoon is unique in that, just below the surface, history is frozen in time. The area was used by the Japanese Empire as its main South Pacific naval base during WWII. Its importance as a military stronghold was destroyed during a three-day raid in February of 1944 by American forces. This attack sank 32 Japanese merchant ships, destroyed over 200 aircraft and most strategically, 12 Japanese warships. Devastation ensued and created what is known as the “biggest graveyard of ships in the world.”
A Quick Run-Down of Technical Diving
Technical diving is an umbrella term for different types of technical dives. This includes dives that create a ceiling that eliminates the ability to travel unimpeded to the surface, which could be a physical ceiling or a ceiling created by the need to stop for decompression purposes. This means dives that include the use of gas mixtures for breathing, anything below 40m as well as anything with an extended ceiling or requiring staged decompression.
Note: Technical diving requires specific advanced training and understanding of the use of gas mixtures to prevent a variety of potential issues experienced on a deep dive. You should NOT try to use these mixtures without the proper training.
Dive Gas and the Importance of Mixtures
Regular compressed air is used for recreational SCUBA diving but that doesn’t work for technical diving because of the depth and duration of the dives. Mixtures are needed to ensure the diver’s safety. What is in a gas mix?
· Oxygen: While it is the key gas necessary for diving, oxygen can be toxic at certain pressures. This fact makes it necessary to use other gases in a mixture to prevent oxygen toxicity.
· Nitrogen: Nitrogen is used as a counter to the toxicity of oxygen but at a cost. Nitrogen has a narcotic effect, which can create altered states of consciousness (not ideal when enjoying a deep dive!)
· Helium: Helium is added, creating a Trimix, when diving deeper than 56 meters (185 feet). This reduces the narcotic effect of pressurized gases like Nitrogen. Helium is much more expensive than Nitrogen so a mix of the three is often used for technical diving.
What to Check Out in Chuuk Lagoon
Once you have your gas mix figured out, it is time to head out and see the sites. In a place like Chuuk Lagoon, you could dive for weeks and not see all the sites. Where should you go?
· There are a lot of amazing sites with great visibility on the eastern side of Dublon Island. This is where you can find the San Francisco Maru at 63 meters (210 feet) below the surface, ready for you to explore, complete with two war tanks at the front of the ship!
· The Aikoku Maru is another great site sitting at almost the same depth. At 64 meters, the merchant ships wreck is a prime spot for diving with plenty of sea life, coral and historical significance that any SCUBA diver will get excited about.
· If you want to check out what Americans call “Betty Bomber”, head outside of Eten Island. This almost intact Mitsubishi G4M plane sits only 15 meters (50 feet) below the surface. This is within recreational diving limits.
When it comes to technical diving and SCUBA diving to historical wreck sites, Chuuk Lagoon holds the title as one of the worlds best. Dozens of wrecks, fantastic visibility and a great dive culture make this a must-see destination for anyone interested in technical SCUBA diving.
Carl Byington is an experienced entrepreneur and executive at PHM Design, LLC and other companies. In addition to his engineering and business efforts, Carl Byington is an adventurer by nature. For his water sports, Carl enjoys kayaking, free diving, and SCUBA diving. Carl is a PADI Divemaster and Discover SCUBA Leader. He has taught and guided divers for about 7 years. Let’s do diving!
