Truk Lagoon - You may want to make this dream trip sooner rather then later

We have just come back from a great trip to Truk Lagoon aboard the Odyssey, and I've been comparing some photos from our first trip there, in May, 2008 to these recent ones. Quite a few of the wrecks we dove have deteriorated quite a bit in only six years. The dive trip is still fabulous, but the wrecks are 70 years old now. Here are some of the "before and after's".

The Fumitzuki is a destroyer, sitting more of less upright. I took this photo of the bow 6 years ago. I didn't take an "after" on this trip because the bow has split away from the body of the ship and lies in the sand now.

The famous "R2D2" which I think is on the Fujikawa Maru, as well as the engine room, is not accessible any more as most of the structure in that part of the ship has collapsed.

The king post on the Fujikawa Maru is showing some real deterioration, but that may be because it is pretty heavily "loved". Note a diver's spare tank attached to the top. Before and after photos:

And sadly, the San Francisco Maru wheelhouse has mostly collapsed, which made a great backdrop to the tanks. Before and after photos below. We would go back in a second, if you love wrecks this is nirvana. But they are changing.

Thanks for posting!

My first trip was last year - and booked again for 2015. So I haven't seen anything different. But wow what a difference on the San Fran.

I'm glad that I should be there in a couple of months, even if some of my favourite spots from ten years ago have gone...

... is this bubble damage from a generation of divers?

While divers may have caused damage over the years, time is the major factor in the state of wrecks. Truk will still be a major drawcard for many years to come, most of the wrecks are still in excellent condition, not having to face the large ocean swells.

We are due there this August to start filming the second in the series of "Shipwrecks of Truk lagoon" for the Blue Lagoon Dive shop. (DVD) Living in Australia we have access to some of the great diving destination close by. The Solomon islands, Papua New Guinea for example, but none come even close to the huge list of shipwrecks offered in Truk.

Max Gleeson

www.maxgleeson.com

We have just come back from a great trip to Truk Lagoon aboard the Odyssey, and I've been comparing some photos from our first trip there, in May, 2008 to these recent ones. Quite a few of the wrecks we dove have deteriorated quite a bit in only six years. The dive trip is still fabulous, but the wrecks are 70 years old now. Here are some of the "before and after's".

 

The Fumitzuki is a destroyer, sitting more of less upright. I took this photo of the bow 6 years ago. I didn't take an "after" on this trip because the bow has split away from the body of the ship and lies in the sand now.

 

The famous "R2D2" which I think is on the Fujikawa Maru, as well as the engine room, is not accessible any more as most of the structure in that part of the ship has collapsed.

 

I was just there and went into the room with the R2D2. Madison on the Odyseey took us into there:

 

 

 

I first dove Truk in 1983 (as a teenager) w/my dad. We stayed at the old Intercontinental Hotel. Having gone back once since then (and seeing these pictures), the wrecks are clearly showing their age. Still one of the most haunting places to dive in the Pacific...

back then I had almost as much fun following the remnants of the old sunken pontoon bridge/pier (just snorkeling) sitting right off the hotel as I did diving some of the wrecks (many of the wrecks are deep, diving on tables - not a lot of time to look around), in 4 days of diving we did 7 dives). The other distinct memory I have is the number of sharks on the wrecks were much more plentiful. You couldn't descend on any of the wrecks without seeing 5-10 sharks (grey reefies) circling near the bottom.

My son is 9, I'm looking forward to when he's 16 or 17 and see if he's interested in diving some of these wrecks (my 12 year old daughter is getting certified this weekend, but she's much more interested in looking at "pretty fish"

- Matt

Matt, I'm sorry to say I saw no sharks at all on any of the wrecks we dove. The dives are still awesome, coral growth aplenty and lots of little sweepers etc. I have a Truk Lagoon gallery on my website, << fletcherforbes.com >> if you want to see what some of the wrecks look like.

Sean, I guess you were talking during the briefing. JJ, the Odyssey Captain said that "R2D2" and the engine room were not in the part of the wreck that had collapsed, but it was in eminent danger of collapse. He asked us not to ask the divemasters to take us there as it was unsafe, and they all had families who depended upon them.

We talked about it with our dive master Ken, and he did not want to make the penetration, so we respected that.

I'm sorry to say I saw no sharks at all on any of the wrecks we dove. JJ, the Odyssey Captain said that "R2D2" and the engine room were not in the part of the wreck that had collapsed, but it was in eminent danger of collapse. He asked us not to ask the divemasters to take us there as it was unsafe, and they all had families who depended upon them.

 

I saw sharks, usually a little off the wrecks, on several dives this month. I ventured into the pit that was once the engine room of the Fujikawa Maru alone, taking more than a little time to identify "R2D2" as he looks nothing like himself from the rear! I talked to JJ, and took the decision to pursue my own challenge without risking the (perhaps over-willing) guides. Madison and Kent are happy enough to wriggle through engine rooms as it is!

The San Francisco Maru is still very impressive, and it's a technical challenge that is under-appreciated at 50m or more.

The Fumitzuki is indeed ageing, but she isn't done yet.

Despite all these threats to the wrecks, and the siren lure of challenges to divers' skill, even the shallow wrecks remain attractive.

Despite a wonderful trip, with good companions, Chuuk is not a paradise in the Pacific. My heart goes out to the family of the diver who became another tragic victim of this deceptive and beautiful place two days ago. We should not forget that Truk is a far-flung corner of the world, and that the diving is often close to the edge...

Here is a link to my images from May in Chuuk.

We go in Mat of 2015 for our 4th visit to Truk. First was in 1998 and every time we return, a little more is gone. I had dozens of shots of the Fumitzuki standing up and so sad to see her leaning. What else will we find?