Truk

Truk Lagoon is the greatest wreck diving destination in the world! More than 60 WWII Japanese war ships and aircraft were sunk during Operation Hailstone in February of 1944. Now they lie peacefully on the lagoon floor waiting to be explored. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Shinkoku Maru
2. Jill 1, Float Plane
3. Nippo Maru, Aikoku Maru
4. Heian Maru, Kiyozumi Maru, Yamagiri Maru
5. San Francisco Maru, Hokuyo Maru, Seiko Maru, Momokawa Maru, Reiyo Maru, Nagano Maru, Ojima Maru, Kikukawa Maru
6. Hoki Maru
7. Fujikawa Maru
8. Emily Flying Boat, Betty Bomber
9. Sankisan Maru, Amagisan Maru

40-100 ft
This 450′ freighter/passenger ship was built in 1934 and initially provided passage between Kobe, Japan and New York. In 1941, she was outfitted with eight anti-aircraft guns and a pair of torpedo launchers and entered the fray. She and 43 crewmen were ultimately done in by Douglas dive bombers from USS Yorktown CV10 and USS Enterprise. You’ll see bronze lanterns, china, pots, a steering wheel, glass bottles, silver-colored wall plates covered with Japanese Kanji characters, Yellowtail damsels, jacks, barracuda, and more.

30-110 ft
This 440′ freighter/passenger ship, built in 1938, lies on her port side. In 1944, she was under repair in Truk Lagoon for damage sustained from 2 USS Drum torpedos when Curtis Helldivers from USS Bunker Hill dropped two bombs. She sank quickly. You’ll see 14″ shells, a steamroller, construction equipment, and a skull embedded in the engine room wall by the force of the explosions.

40-115 ft
This 461′ eight-deck passenger liner, built in 1930, was converted into a submarine tender in 1940 and sunk during the first phases of Operation Hailstone in 1944. She rests on her Starboard side, with the stern deeper than the bow. You’ll see coastal defense guns, oil/gasoline drums, and a cargo hold filled with beer bottles.

40-120 ft
This 510′ passenger/cargo luxury liner was built in 1930 and pressed into wartime duty in 1941. In 1944 she was hit by a USS Yorktown CV10 dive bomber, damaged by two USS Bunker Hill torpedo bombers, and ultimately sunk by Avenger torpedo bombers. You’ll see a dozen 20 foot Long Lance torpedoes that are 2 feet in diameter, periscopes on the promenade deck, and other artifacts.

40-125 ft
This 500′ Naval Tanker was one of eight built in 1940 to refuel the ships used for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She went down during Operation Hailstone after being hit by a Dauntless dive bomber from the USS Yorktown CV10 and torpedoed by Grumman Avengers. Outstanding soft corals and anemones make this an outstanding dive! You’ll also see tons of tiny, colorful fish, three engine telegraphs on the bridge, and a sick bay complete with operating tables and medicine bottles.

100-165 ft
This 354′ cargo ship suffered little damage and makes for an intriguing dive. The holds contain a full battery of 5-inch guns and there are four Japanese antitank guns on the starboard deck in hold number four. The galley and aft part of the superstructure are also accessible. The Nippo features the most picturesque bridge of all the wrecks, with the sponge-encrusted helm and engine telegraph engulfed by a cloud of silver sweepers.

30-112 ft
This fairly shallow cargo ship is considered one of Truk’s “must do” dives. The ship features a bow gun encrusted with multi-colored sponges and coral and the bow is blanketed with soft corals, fans, and sea anemones. The holds contain a water tank, ammunition for the bow gun, propeller blades, cowling and many other aircraft parts. There are also partly disassembled fighter planes together with fuselage parts and other equipment. The superstructure with pilothouse, baths, staterooms, galley and engine room are easily accessible.

150-210 ft
When this 385′ passenger/cargo ship was sunk by six 500 lb bombs dropped by aircraft from the Carrier Essex, she was fully loaded. The cargo of this “million dollar wreck” includes trucks & tanks, mines, torpedoes, bombs, artillery & munitions, aircraft engines & parts, and oil/gasoline drums.