Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon – Micronesia
Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia was the Imperial Japanese Navy's main base in the central Pacific. On 17–18 February 1944 US carrier aircraft sank around 40 ships and destroyed hundreds of aircraft in Operation Hailstone, and more ships were lost in raids in April 1944. Today the wrecks lie in warm, sheltered water around Dublon (Tonoas), Eten, Fefan, Uman and the Fourth Fleet anchorage, many encrusted with soft coral and still carrying tanks, trucks, aircraft parts, shells and everyday objects. Shallow sites suit newer divers, but the deeper wrecks (40–65 m) are technical dives. All Japanese ships and aircraft sunk here are protected state monuments and war graves; a Chuuk dive permit and a licensed guide are required, and taking anything is illegal.
Dive sites
- A6M Zero Fighter (Eten)
- A6M Zero Fighter (Fefan, upside down)
- Aikoku Maru
- Amagisan Maru
- Betty Bomber (Mitsubishi G4M)
- D4Y Judy Dive Bomber (Eten)
- E13A Jake Seaplane
- Eissen 761
- Emily Flying Boat (Kawanishi H8K)
- Fujikawa Maru
- Fujisan Maru
- Fumizuki
- Futagami
- Gosei Maru
- Hanakawa Maru
- Heian Maru
- Hino Maru No. 2
- Hoki Maru
- Hokuyo Maru
- Hoyo Maru
- I-169 Shinohara Submarine
- Kansho Maru
- Kikukawa Maru
- Kiyosumi Maru
- Momokawa Maru
- Nagano Maru
- Nippo Maru
- Oite
- Ojima
- Rio de Janeiro Maru
- San Francisco Maru
- Sankisan Maru
- Seiko Maru
- Shinkoku Maru
- Shotan Maru
- Sutsuki (Patrol Boat No. 34)
- Unkai Maru No. 6
- USS Sgt. Major William J. Pugh
- Yamagiri Maru
- Yubae Maru