If you are looking for a unique and thrilling diving experience, you might want to consider visiting the haunted Chuuk Lagoon in Micronesia. This tropical paradise is home to one of the largest and most eerie underwater graveyards in the world, where hundreds of sunken ships and planes from World War II lie in their watery tombs.
Chuuk Lagoon, also known as Truk Lagoon, was a strategic base for the Japanese Imperial Navy during the war. It housed a large fleet of warships, submarines, aircraft carriers, and planes, as well as thousands of soldiers and civilians. However, on February 17, 1944, the US Navy launched a surprise attack on Chuuk Lagoon, codenamed Operation Hailstone. The attack lasted for two days and resulted in the destruction of more than 50 ships, 250 planes, and 4,500 lives.
The sunken vessels and aircrafts remained largely undisturbed for decades, until the French explorer Jacques Cousteau filmed a documentary about them in 1969. Since then, Chuuk Lagoon has become a popular destination for divers who want to explore the ghostly wrecks and witness the remnants of history. Some of the wrecks are still intact and contain personal belongings, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and even human remains. The lagoon is also teeming with marine life, such as corals, fish, sharks, turtles, and rays.
Diving in Chuuk Lagoon is not for the faint-hearted. The wrecks are scattered across a large area and vary in depth and condition. Some are easily accessible from the surface, while others require advanced skills and equipment. The wrecks can also be hazardous due to sharp edges, entanglement risks, oil leaks, and unexploded ordnance. Moreover, some divers report feeling a sense of dread or sadness when diving in Chuuk Lagoon, as if they are disturbing the spirits of the fallen.
If you are interested in visiting Chuuk Lagoon, you will need to fly to Chuuk International Airport and book a dive operator or liveaboard boat. There are several dive sites to choose from, each with its own history and attractions. Some of the most famous wrecks include:
- Fujikawa Maru: A cargo ship that was converted into an aircraft ferry. It was sunk by a torpedo and now lies at a depth of 15 to 35 meters. It contains several Zero fighter planes and parts in its cargo holds, as well as machine guns, gas masks, sake bottles, and coral-encrusted artifacts.
- Shinkoku Maru: A tanker that was hit by several bombs and now rests at a depth of 12 to 40 meters. It is one of the most colorful wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, covered with soft corals and sponges. It also has a large engine room, a medical room with a human skull, and a bathtub with a resident turtle.
- San Francisco Maru: A passenger-cargo ship that was carrying munitions and supplies when it was sunk by a bomb. It lies at a depth of 45 to 65 meters and is considered one of the most challenging dives in Chuuk Lagoon. It holds three tanks, trucks, mines, shells, rifles, and torpedoes in its holds.
- Nippo Maru: A transport ship that was carrying tanks, trucks, artillery pieces, mines, and ammunition when it was bombed. It lies at a depth of 15 to 48 meters and is one of the most intact wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon. It has a bridge with a steering wheel and compass, a radio room with equipment, and a galley with dishes.
Chuuk Lagoon is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and haunting dive sites in the world. It offers a rare opportunity to witness the relics of war and the effects of time and nature on them. If you are looking for an adventure that will challenge your skills and stir your emotions, you should definitely add Chuuk Lagoon to your bucket list.
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