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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