Truk

(2 REVIEWS)

Country: Federated States of Micronesia

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Truk in a Nutshell

Truk Lagoon is considered by some to be the best wreck diving destination in the world, with over 60 World War II wrecks. The wrecks have a good amount of marine life on them, but some are quite deep, with the bottoms in the 100 - 150+ ft. range. The name "Truk" is actually a corruption of the native name for this area, Chuuk, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. Due to its Natural Harbor - Truk was a strategically located, Japanese Naval Base during WWII.

Diving Information

Marine Life & Photography Subjects

Besides the famous WWII wrecks, Palau also offers a great variety of marine life. Divers can expect to see mantas, sharks, trevally, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, mandarin fish, anthias, anemone fish and almost every other kind of tropical fish you can think of. There is also Jellyfish Lake which is filled with nonstinging jellyfish.

Diving Conditions

Visibility: You are in a lagoon, so visibility is good but not excellent; 40-60 ft. / 12-18 m. is the norm, and 30 ft. / 10 m. visibility would be a bad day. Sometimes visibility can reach 80 ft. / 24 m. or more, especially if it hasn't been raining (November - February).
Water Temperatures: 81-84 F / 27-28 C in the winter, 83-86 F / 28-30 C in the summer / early fall.

Truk's Best Dive Sites

The San Francisco Maru is the most famous wreck because of its 3 tanks with guns on the deck, but it is also very deep, sitting at 170 ft.

The Fujikawa Maru is also a favorite wreck to dive, filled with fish and corals.

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Travel Information

How to Get There

Truk Lagoon is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and Hawaii. Book your ticket to Chuuk International Airport (TKK) on Weno Island. All flights to Chuuk International Airport (TKK) require transit via Guam, United States.

How to Dive Truk

Both liveaboard & land-based options are available.

Best Time to Dive Truk

Rainy season is April to December, and dry season is December to April. Any time is fine for diving, however, as visibility is fairly consistent year-round and rain is intermittent.

Topside & Non-Diving Activities

If you have time, don't forget to do some WWII relic excursions! Deep sea fishing trips beyond the outer reefs can also be arranged.

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Other Useful Information

Practical Information

Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Language: English is a primary language
Main Airport Code: TKK
Time Zone: UTC+10
Electricity: 120V

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GOT QUESTIONS? READY TO BOOK?

Call us today at 310-915-6677 or email us info@bluewaterdivetravel.com

And let us book your dream vacation!

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Region:

Micronesia

Reviews (2)

Top Reviewer

cjfigg23

12 Reviews

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Overall Value

Conditions

Marine Life

Top-side

Truk Lagoon is not known for it's marine life, but obviously the shipwrecks. It's possibly the number 1 wreck diving spot in the whole world. I dove it this summer and can totally see why! First of all, I usually go on trips to see an exotic shark species. That is what draws me in. And, I actually did get to dive with my 8th shark species, a zebra shark, during my trip at Truk Lagoon. But, I also knew that I had to dive the number 1 wreck diving spot even if I wasn't promised a shark. Some of the other marine life included spotted eagle rays, jellyfish, eels, and nudibranches. Again those were not the cause of your breath being taken away. It was the magnitude of the ships, the ammunition left behind, the gadgets found in the ships that would've been used by the crew, and just the sobering reality that you are diving a gravesite. i am not one to take human life lightly. So, for me seeing the skull embedded into the ship was quite the experience. Not only do you have to swim up into a somewhat small, dark, secluded area to see it (kinda made me a little claustrophobic, and I'm not usually like that), but again knowing that was a life just made it a little bit surreal.

Let's just say I swam through a betty bomber, torpedo holes, and down to the million dollar wreck known as the San Francisco! Missiles, tanks, land mines, and much more are still there for us to dive with. That was my deepest dive ever. Extremely EPIC!

No matter where you stay, Truk Lagoon needs to be on your bucket list!!!!

Visited on 07/2013 - Submitted on 02/24/2014

Reviewer

Michelle Scamahorn

3 Reviews

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Overall Value

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Marine Life

Top-side

I have been to Chuuk several times and I intend to keep going back. It is that good. If you love soft corals, GO. If you love wreck diving, GO. If you love war history, GO. If you are a tech diver, GO. If you have a camera, GO.

I have dived the wrecks from shore based dive shop and also from the Truk Aggressor, now gone but there are other liveaboards in the lagoon.

The island has changed dramatically in the 20 some years I have been going. The days of letting your gear dry on the lanai of the Truk Continental Hotel are over, at least if you ever want to see your gear again they are. When I was on the Aggressor, we had a night security guard who kept people from paddling up in the night to steal our gear. That being said, if one just uses caution all should be well.

The diving is sublime. The visibility in the lagoon can be a bit murky but since the dives are all on wrecks it never seems to matter. I found the diving to be very doable for most divers. Although some were deeper, it was very easy to dive in the 60 to 100 foot range. The wrecks, aside from being amazing pieces of history, are covered with stunning soft corals and anemones with their resident skunk clown fish and microscopic shrimps. Tiny reef fish such as damsels and anthias sweep over the wrecks in unison like some sort of fishy ballet. Angel fishes, butterflies also swim in and out of the structures and looking closely one can find lion fishes as well. If one takes the time to look up from this stunning display pupio can be seen swimming by and occasionally a reef shark. Ammunition also also covers some of the decks along with gas masks, jeeps, tanks, bottles and even bicycles.

When I was there in 1994, a group from Japan had just been there to remove remains from the wrecks and take them home to Japan. It was the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Chuuk. Although since then, I have seen bones that were found within the wrecks and then left on display and photographed by divers. It is in poor taste and usually the remains are placed back inside the wreck by a divemaster.

Making night dives on the wrecks is something especially not to be missed as the place just comes more alive. It's difficult to believe this place could become more spectacular but it does.
Seeing this bit of history is an incredible opportunity one should not pass up if at all possible.

Visited on - Submitted on 02/13/2014

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