About the project and the region
The Pacific was home to some of the most intense battles of WWII. Everyone has heard of Pearl Harbor, but it was not only US forces that suffered heavy losses, the Japanese did so as well.
Truk Lagoon, in the Micronesian region of the Pacific, served as an important base for the Japanese Imperial Navy. In the early morning of February 17, 1944, the US launched an attack on Truk from three aircraft carrier groups nearby. The low-flying torpedo bombers and dive bombers did not show up on Japanese radar, and so were a complete surprise to the Japanese forces. Over the next two days, Operation Hailstone stormed the Japanese defenses, shot down and destroyed more than 250 warplanes, and sank nearly 50 Japanese vessels, resulting in an important victory for the US and the creation of the largest concentration of sunken warships in the world.
This expedition is aimed at diving the spectacular fleet of sunken Japanese WWII ships in Truk Lagoon.
The educational trip will comprise an 11-day program during which we will dive the best that Truk Lagoon has to offer. This includes numerous impressive shipwrecks filled with interesting cargo and artifacts, most of which are so-called ‘Maru’. These were Japanese merchant vessels that were filled with war materiel such as trucks, ordnance, and even planes. This sunken fleet presents endless opportunities for exploration. It is also possible to experience some superb reef diving. There are numerous channels that cut through the atoll and reefs which serve as hunting grounds for a variety of sharks and schooling pelagics which all add to the wonder of diving Truk Lagoon.
For this project, we are partnering with Behind the Mask Travel. The liveaboard vessel Pacific Master will be our base during this trip. At the start of the trip, you will learn about the history of Truk Lagoon and Operation Hailstone. On board, there will be daily presentations on the history of the shipwrecks we’ll be diving. In addition, we will organize heritage management workshops and discussions whereby you learn about the challenges facing these wreck sites and how these can be managed by heritage professionals. For those interested, we will provide underwater photography and videography workshops. This is a valuable skill to learn for aspiring underwater scientists.
The majority of wrecks in Truk Lagoon are within recreational, no-decompression dive limits at depths between 18 and 40 meters (60-130 ft). Therefore, we require participants to hold an Advanced Open Water certification with a minimum of 50 logged dives, and have dived within a year of the start of the program.
You are more than welcome to sign up for the program if you do not yet possess the required dive experience and certifications, as long as you meet the requirements at the start of the program.
Highlight
One of the highlights of the trip is diving the Fujikawa Maru, a 436-foot-long armed cargo ship sitting upright on a sandy bottom between 30 and 120 feet.
It is likely that we will be able to make multiple dives on this impressive WWII wreck. The Fujikawa Maru offers 6 holds, 4 of which are open, in which can be found parts of Zero Fighter Aircraft including engine parts, propeller blades and fuel cells. Deeper inside the wreck, Mitsubishi A5M Claude & A6M parts can be discovered. The bow gun is encrusted with corals and the outer wreck is covered in sea fans, soft corals, and anemones. Exploring the ‘Fuji’ is possible for divers of all levels.
The program includes the following components:
- Up to 34 dives
- Underwater photography
- Underwater videography
- History of Truk Lagoon and Operation Hailstone
- Underwater heritage management workshops and discussions
- Shipwreck histories
- Underwater photo and video workshops
- Up to 34 dives
- Underwater photography
- Underwater videography
- History of Truk Lagoon and Operation Hailstone
- Underwater heritage management workshops and discussions
- Shipwreck histories
- Underwater photo and video workshops
Program Details
During the expedition, we will spend 10 nights on board the Pacific Master liveaboard vessel. This custom-designed liveaboard was built with divers in mind to bring you the very best diving experience possible. The steel-hulled vessel boasts an experienced boat crew, dive team, and chefs to ensure the highest standards of service.
Pacific Master features 12 cabins allowing comfortable accommodation for up to 20 guests. These are categorised into one en-suite premium double cabin, five en-suite premium double/twin cabins, four standard single cabins and two standard twin cabins with shared bathroom facilities.
An spacious lounge and dining area is located on the main deck of the boat providing plenty of air-conditioned space to unwind and enjoy the on-board cuisine. An expansive dive deck leads to the dive platform, and also boasts a dedicated camera area for photographers. Individual dive stations provide plenty of space and storage for your dive kit. This area also provides individual toilets, freshwater showers and rinse tanks for your equipment.
If you prefer to relax in the sunshine and fresh air, the large sun deck comes complete with comfortable loungers to lie back and enjoy the views.
We believe that good food is key to a successful trip. Food and drinks will be provided for the duration of the trip. When on the boat, three delicious meals will be offered every day to keep you energized for diving.
- Participants to the expedition are required to be certified scuba divers and hold at least a PADI Advanced Open Water certification with 50 logged dives and recent dive experience prior to the start of the trip.
- Participants are required to have dive insurance for the duration of the course. Our recommendation is DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance.
The course fee ranges from $4,150 to $5,600, depending on cabin availability and choice.
Included is the following
- 10 nights full board accommodation including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- Unlimited tea, coffee, fruit juice, drinking water & soft drinks
- Deck towels, bath towels and liquid soap
- Up to 4 dives per day
- Disembarkation transfer
- Embarkation transfer
Not included is the following
- Dive- and travel insurance (mandatory)
- Marine, park and port fees : 250 USD per trip, to be paid on board (subject to change)
- Departure Tax : 30 USD per trip, to be paid at the airport
- Flights
- Alcoholic beverages
- Laundry
- Crew gratuities
- Equipment rental
- Nitrox
Our programs tend to fill up quickly so it is advised to apply as far in advance as possible. An application form can be downloaded here, and once filled out, emailed to info@theshipwrecksurvey.com. Once the application form is received, we will put you in touch with our partner Behind the Mask in order to confirm your spot by deposit.
The liveaboard vessel departs from Weno Island, Chuuk. There are a few ways to get there. The first step usually involves getting to Hawaii or Guam, from which you can take a nonstop flight to Truk International Airport (TKK). United Airlines is the only carrier to serve this route.
For this project, we are partnering with Behind the Mask Travel. Check out their website and amazing content here.
sign up for an adventure of a lifetime
sign up for an adventure of a lifetime
