SCUBA TOURS WORLDWIDE - Representing the world's finest diving
Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
Truk Lagoon | Blue Lagoon Dive Resort | Truk Stop Hotel | Liveaboards | Sample Itinerary | Palau or Yap Combination |
Introduction to Truk Lagoon
Truk Lagoon is a wreck diver’s paradise steeped in World War II history and is a unique destination. During the second world war the atoll of Truk, in the south-west pacific, was the forward base for the Japanese navy. In February 1944 the Americans laid seige to Truk Lagoon, executing a destructive aerial bombardment known as Operation Hailstone. 30 waves of American bombers destroyed 250 Japanese planes, an estimated 60 vessels, and thousands of Japanese and Chuukese. Operation Hailstone set a two-day World War II record of destruction: 180,000 tons of shipping was sunk. Today, dozens of Japanese ships and artifacts can be seen in the clear Lagoon waters.
Diving on these ships captures a historic moment in time. Their guns remain facing the sky, still armed with spent ammunition shells strewn across their decks, and holds are packed full of military hardware and explosives. Truk Lagoon is a 'must' for any discerning diver.
The shallowest wrecks lay just a few metres below the surface, while the deepest - the San Fransisco - is at 65m. The average depth for the majority of wrecks is between 30m - 45m and the diving is often in little current and in generally very good visibility. Diving is excellent all year round and the best way to dive Truk, or Chuuk as it is also known, is from the liveaboards SS Thorfinn and the Odyssey, or from the very well run Blue Lagoon Dive Resort.
Blue Lagoon Dive Resort
Recently fully refurbished the Blue Lagoon Resort is an excellent hotel set within 14 acres of gardens shaded by swaying palm trees. Set along the waters edge, with views out across historic Truk Lagoon, the resort comprises of 54 rooms and 2 suites, built in 2-storey, low impact blocks. Each room is air-conditioned and has a private bathroom, IDD telephone, TV, balcony or veranda.
The dive centre has a fleet of 10 comfortable, fast boats and the most experienced guides in Truk. The furthest wreck from the resort is around 55 minutes away and the dive boats generally set off to make two dives in the morning with a third dive in the afternoon followed by a night dive.
The resort has an island-style restaurant serving an excellent choice of local seafood and Pacific and Asian cuisine with wonderful sunset views. Other facitilies include a gift shop and fax and email services.
Truk Stop Hotel
Truk Stop Hotel is a family run hotel with 23 rooms located close to the main town area in Weno. The spacious rooms, many with oceanview, are all air-conditioned with ceiling fans, private balcony, free cable TV/DVD player, and complimentary drinking water. On site facilities include a restaurant, bakery, Hard Wreck Cafe and Bar, Body Shop massage and gift shop. Free wifi internet is available 24 hours a day in the restaurant and on the adjoining patio.
Truk Lagoon Dive Center has been operating at Truk Stop Hotel since 2001 and is managed by 2 expatriate instructors (PADI/TDI) with certified local dive guides and boat drivers. They can accommodate all types of diver from beginner open water and recreational diver wanting nitrox to technical divers requiring trimix and rebreather support.
Fast 30ft covered dive boats with twin 90s, hang tanks, hangbars, emergency oxygen, first aid kits and fresh drinking water depart the dock every morning for 2 tank or single dives. Afternoon 2 tank and single dives are also offered, along with night dives, shark dives and when weather conditions allow dives on the outreef where silvertip sharks are usually seen.
Liveaboard - The SS Thorfinn
The excellent SS Thorfinn is a 58 metre steel hulled former Norwegian whale hunting boat purposefully converted for dive cruises. There are 11 spacious twin or double cabins for a maximum of 22 guests. All cabins are air conditioned with en-suite facilities. There are spacious lounges and sundecks and even a whirlpool spa.
The dive guides on board the Thorfinn are among the most experienced in Truk and 5 dives per day are offered to five different dive sites, easily reached from one of four tenders - two of which are extremely comfortable covered ribs. Dive groups are small, generally not exceeding six in each group, and in just one week's diving it is possible to dive 30 or more wrecks! Nitrox and rebreather support is offered and for photographers there are large camera stations for charging and cleaning, dedicated rinse tanks and a large plasma TV in the lounge for viewing results. The Thorfinn runs 7nt itineraries from Saturdays to Saturdays.
Liveaboard - The Odyssey
The Odyssey is a fantastic 38m steel hull vessel fully equipped to take a maximum of 16 passengers. There are 7 twin or double cabins and 2 single cabins. All cabins are en-suite with air conditioning and each cabin has a TV and DVD player.
On board facilities include full entertainment centre in the lounge, dedicated areas for camera charging and cleaning and full Nitrox and rebreather support is offered. Diving is conducted from the stern of the Odyssey, rather than a tender, so it is often possible to dive in buddy pairs or small groups. The Odyssey runs 7nt itineraries from Sundays to Sundays.
Sample Itinerary
To get to Truk we can recommend flying from the UK via Manila, with a one-night stop over there en-route, and from there you can take the Continental Micronesia airlines flights to Truk Lagoon via a transit in Guam. We can also arrange flights travelling via the US and Honolulu, or via Tokyo. Continental Micronesia flight schedules are quite sporadic and often change, so please give us a call for a firm itinerary to suit your Truk accommodation preference and time of travel. The following is a sample itinerary travelling with Emirates from Heathrow to Manila:
Day 1 Depart London Heathrow at 1345hrs for overnight flight to Manila via Dubai
Day 2 Arrive Manila at 1545hrs and transfer to hotel for 1 night
Day 3 Depart Manila at 2310hrs for flight to Truk via Guam
Day 4 Arrive Truk Lagoon at 1000hrs and transfer to hotel or liveaboard for 10 nights accommodation
Day 5 Begin 9 days of superb diving on the wonderful wrecks of Truk Lagoon
Day 14 Depart Truk Lagoon at 1550hrs for flight to Manila via Guam, arriving Manila at 2040hrs.
Day 15 Depart Manila at 0020hrs for flight to UK via Dubai, arriving Heathrow at 1135hrs.
Palau or Yap Add-ons
Manila is one of the main hubs for the Continental Micronesia flights that travel to Truk Lagoon, Palau and Yap. Air passes are available for two or more destinations and it is therefore quite easy to incorporate more than one destination. For Palau there are direct flights from Manila on certain days of the week making Palau a popular and highly recommended combination. Yap requires a slightly longer duration as all flights travel through Guam with long lay-overs. We can arrange Day Room options for you in Guam to make the journey as relaxed as possible and be assured that the diving in Yap makes it all worth while.
We are very experienced in putting together itinereraies for trips to Micronesia and we have first-hand knowledge of each of the destinations so please give us a call to find out more and to get a personalised itinerary and quote to suit your requirements.
