Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos Islands), Jan 2014

Grand Turk, Oasis Divers, Columbus Landfall Marine National Park
from the beach you can see how close the wall starts from shore.

I like Grand Turk for what it doesn’t have, as much as for what it does have.   Along with Little Cayman, its one of my favourite places to dive in the Caribbean.

It has all the modern conveniences,  but it still retains a quiet, laid-back appeal from an earlier time.   You’ll feel like you’re “getting away from it all” as you walk down Front and Duke streets, just feet away from the beach, among beautifully flowered-bushes, friendly people, and historic British colonial homes.   (more…)

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Diving Truk Lagoon- the last dives, Submarine I-169, Betty Bomber and Kensho Maru.

Aug 3, 2013

Submarine I-169 at Truk Lagoon
The submarine I-169. Its heavily damaged in places due to depth charging. Here you can see the inner pressure hull exposed.

I’ve always been interested in submarines, beginning when I found out that my great-grandfather served in the Royal Navy on the ill-fated submarine HMS E24 in WWI.  So when I asked about the I-169 Capt. Nelson said “We’re here to make your dreams come true”. (more…)

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Diving Truk Lagoon- the “Ghost Fleet” Wrecks

Fujikawa Maru
Exploring the holds of the Fujikawa Maru.

July 2013

Truk Lagoon was the scene of “Operation Hailstone” (Feb. 17-18, 1944), a devastating aerial bombardment by the US Navy on Japan’s largest Naval strongold in the Pacific.   Today it is known as the “world’s greatest wreck dive”, with more than 48 preserved and diveable wrecks all concentrated in one area.

To dive them is to step back in time.   You will see live munitions, guns, planes and tanks and personal artifacts from the period, such as china, bottles, books, shoes and even the occasional bone.  These wrecks are considered to be war graves.   You are allowed to penetrate the wrecks, but strict policies are in place that forbid the removal of anything from them.   

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Truk Lagoon Day 1 Island Tour

July, 2014

Etten Island in Truk Lagoon (Chuuk)
Preparing to land on Weno at Chuuk Lagoon (formerly called Truk Lagoon). Note that Etten Island in the foreground was shaped by the Imperial Japanese (using forced labor) to replicate an unsinkable aircraft carrier. Tonoas (formerly called Dublon) is in the immediate background.

Truk’s (Chuuk’s) historical treasures aren’t just hidden beneath the waves. They’re everywhere.  And a WWII buff’s dream.  The Blue Lagoon Dive shop/Resort is located on Weno (formerly Moen), the main island of Chuuk, and occupies the prior site of an Imperial Japanese fighter & Seaplane Base. On this beautiful property you will find old bunkers, machine guns, propellers and other artifacts.
The dive shop was founded and run by the late Kimiou Aisek, who witnessed the US Navy’s devastating attack on Truk (Operation Hailstone) in February 1944. His son Gradvin now operates the dive shop. Here are some pictures of the dive resort grounds:

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