- Philip Christoff
Truk Lagoon 2019
I spent all year looking forward to the return to Chuuk and this year’s trip did not disappoint. We had great conditions all week with calm warm waters, good visibility and clear skies. The Blue Lagoon Resort was amazing and the friendly staff were happy to have us back.
(Photos by Simon Chivers, Chris Bothwell, Nick & Kristi Buxton)
This year we had a recreational group new to Truk and eager to be introduced to all the amazing diving the lagoon has to offer.
We started off with some of the shallower wrecks (15-30m) including the Fujikawa, Kensho and Shinkoko where the group got a chance to check out interesting cargo holds full airplane parts, ammunition, tractors, trucks and more.
We also managed to have a look in some of the easily accessible larger rooms with bottles, pottery and smaller machines
As last year we had two teams - A recreational team and a technical team. I joined each time either for morning or afternoon and was available for all more challenging dives.
The returning tech divers could not wait to get back in the water. It is like a home coming as the wrecks obviously have barely changed and one remembers where to find things and which routes to dive.
And mother nature has decorated the wrecks well. Everything is lovely overgrown and offers a safe haven to many marine animals and organisms.
As the week progressed the groups were able to venture to some of the deeper wrecks (25-40m) with highlights being the Nippo, Hoki and Momokawa exploring decks and checking out a few of the more easily accessible engine rooms.
Most of our tech crew for this year were with us in 2018 and were ready to revisit some of their favorite wrecks for further exploration and photography. On the list of must-see deeper wrecks from last year were the San Fransisco, Aikoko and Amagisan. We managed to extend bottom times and see several hidden items we missed on previous dives.
New highlights for the year included the Seiko which we did twice exploring the engine room on the first dive with an interesting entrance through a torpedo hole and checking out more of the exterior of the wreck on the second dive. We also had a look at the I-169 submarine lying on a sandy bottom at 45m.
It was a great week of diving with an amazing group that once again left us wanting for more. I know we are all looking forward to Truk 2020.
About the Author
Philip Christoff
Our tech expert Phil is originally from Sweden but has lived aboard for most of his life. In last four years been in charge of technical diving at Manta Dive on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. He is OC extended range instructor and hold certifications for closed circuit JJ-CCR and SF2 advanced trimix.
Visit his website to find out more about Phil.
Join Phil on this next Insider Divers
