Truk Lagoon, Chuuk, discover over 70 authentic wrecks from the Second World War!
Welcome to diving in the TRUK LAGUNE in the state of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia! This vast oceanic lake with high islands and a surrounding barrier reef of 290 kilometres served as a naturally protected base for Japan's conquest of the entire Western Pacific, leading to fierce battles between the Allied forces to end their military dominance. A massive Allied attack code-named "Operation Hailstone" in February 1944 and two subsequent attacks in April and June left a huge amount of destroyed aircraft and cargoes of sunken warships on the floor of the lagoon and islands of Truk.
World War II shipwrecks encrusted with coral and vast varieties of Indo-Pacific aquatic life including sharks and huge schools of tropical fish.
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- The Thorfinn is the best way to experience the Truk's "best wreck dives in the world" and has been exploring these waters since 1980. Great space, beautiful facilities, delicious food and all-round comfort without pretension. It offers the best staff and value for money for your holiday! In Truk Lagoon, 7 days or more of uninterrupted diving is conducted from fast, state-of-the-art tenders in close proximity to our mother ship, which is in close proximity to the best wreck dive sites. When conditions allow, we visit up to 5 different dive sites a day in small groups, giving us the opportunity to see an unrivalled 30 or more wrecks in a week. Our main business is to dive the best dive sites in this great area.
- 10 double rooms for 20 guests.
- 13 toilets, 11 showers, eight guest rooms in private facilities.
- Deck "A" with upper bridge controls, electronic mast.
- Deck "B" with navigation bridge forward, chart room/business centre, life rafts, distress signals, storage for dive boats, sundeck aft with sun loungers and sun canopy.
- Guest lounge on deck C with 30 seats, bar, DVD and reading library, surround sound CD/player with iPod connection, 50-inch LED TV with DVD player, 2 shower rooms, two toilet rooms, guest rooms no. 9, 10 and 11, storage lockers in the hallway.
- Deck "C" aft of the main lounge, with 2 service/storage tables for cameras, table over the spa and adjoining deckchairs.
- D deck interior forward with dining room, 5 tables for 26, adjacent galley and pantry, observation windows, bookcase, stairs down to crew area.
- Interior of D-deck aft with boutique (handicrafts, T-shirts, postcards), dive service centre, steering position, "Thor's Lair", a large room with luxurious furnishings and room 3.
- E-deck aft, with large guest rooms 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 with en-suite bathrooms.
- E deck forward, with large crew knife room, laundry room, 3 crew rooms, toilet and shower rooms, walk-in fridge/fridge, deck stores and spare parts for the outboard engine.
- F-deck, with 2 crew compartments, large double-sided hold, with O2 generator, diving compressors, storage for diving and oxygen cylinders, heavy deck storage.
- An anchor chain locker and a hydraulic drive motor for the anchor winch are located in front of the collision deck on F deck.
E-Plan from 347 USD per day
We present an affordable dive plan for budget-conscious divers.
Additional plan contents:
- 3 daily air dives to different locations with optional extras on request.
Prices for additional e-plan purchases on board:
- Additional dives (afternoon or evening) $60.00 each.
Dives are conducted from powerful, well-designed, covered 32-foot tenders equipped with radios, sonar, under-seat compartments, freshwater showers and edge-of-seat lighting. Each boat dives at separate sites to avoid crowding at a single mooring, and experienced local dive guides dive in small groups and show you the best attractions at each site. Some have been with Thorfinn for more than 18 years.
Sunrise plan from 371 USD per day
Our most popular dive plan for divers on holiday ...
- Depending on conditions and location, continuous diving up to five times a day from 32ft (10m) deep launch sites.
- Free Nitrox EAN 32 single tanks. Optional multiple cylinders with customised mixes at an extra charge.
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Standard single or double room
- 2 single beds or 1 double bed,
- ensuite bathroom,
- adjustable air conditioning,
- 2 guests
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KingsSize Premium Room
- 1 large double bed,
- 4 windows,
- TV, work desk,
- en-suite bathroom,
- adjustable air conditioning,
- 2 guests
Included: Airport transfers, soft drinks, tea & coffee, drinking water, snacks, full board (all meals), private dive guide, dive packages, fishing, shore excursions, towels for use on deck, cabin towels, complimentary toiletries, beach towels, Wi-Fi, spa.
Compulsory payments: 5 % VAT, Visa and fees (50 USD).
Optional extras: alcoholic drinks, rental equipment, Nitrox course, diving courses. These costs are to be paid on site.
Prices for rental equipment: Rental equipment is available on this ship. Please indicate on the booking form what you need. Details below of what is included and the additional prices. Rental equipment is payable locally.
- Regulator 15 USD per day
- BCD 15USD per day
- Fins 7,50 USD per day
- Mask 5 USD per day
- Nitrox bottle 12 USD
- Torch 10 USD per day
- Dive computer 15 USD per day
- Full equipment (with: regulator, BCD, fins, mask) 40 USD per day
- Air temperature: Stable all year round between 27 °C and 28 °C.
- Water temperature: Constantly warm between 28.5 °C and 29.5 °C, ideal for diving.
- Precipitation: Highest in September (370 mm) and August (360 mm), lowest in February (220 mm).
Chuuk Lagoon is part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), in the western Pacific Ocean, north-east of Papua New Guinea. It is located about halfway between Hawaii and the Philippines. The lagoon is a huge atoll-like coral basin with an area of around 2,130 square kilometres, surrounded by a barrier reef. There are around 60 islands within the lagoon, including Weno (the main island and administrative centre).
Population
Chuuk has around 50,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live on Weno and the surrounding islands. Ethnically, the inhabitants are Micronesian, with their own traditional cultures, languages and customs. The majority live in simple conditions, partly in rural village communities.
Religions
Predominantly Christian, mainly:
- Catholics
- Protestants (mainly Congregationalists)
Missionaries had a strong influence on society, education and healthcare. Religious festivals and church services play an important role in everyday life.
Economic situation
Chuuk is one of the economically weaker regions of Micronesia. Main sources of income:
- Fishing
- small-scale agriculture
- Government support (mainly from the USA)
Economic influence of the diving industry
The tourism industry is small, but internationally recognised - mainly due to wreck diving.
The infrastructure is rather basic: limited medical care, few modern hotels, limited transport.
Why Chuuk Lagoon is a favourite destination for divers
Chuuk Lagoon isthe world's most important wreck diving area - often referred to as the "underwater museum of the Second World War".
In 1944, the US Navy sank over 60 Japanese warships, freighters and aeroplanes during Operation Hailstone. The wrecks are spectacularly preserved today and offer:
- Dives into cargo holds, engine rooms and bridges
- Coral-covered steel structures
- Historical artefacts: tanks, motorbikes, ammunition, gas cylinders
- The lagoon also offers top macro diving - with nudibranchs, scorpion fish, seahorses and intact reefs.
- Diving tourism is one of the few international sources of income. Local resorts, dive centres and boat operators benefit directly.
Why Chuuk Lagoon is a favourite destination for divers
- Unique concentration of historic wrecks in a tropical environment
- Over 50 diveable wrecks - many with spectacular preservation
- Combination of history and underwater world
- Great biodiversity on and around the wrecks (corals, fish, macro)
- Less crowded, ideal for wreck enthusiasts & underwater photographers
- Dives from beginner to tec diving (incl. rebreather, deep wrecks)
- Best time to visit: December to April (dry season, best visibility)
Importance for diving tourism
- Jobs for guides, boat drivers, hotel staff
- Training projects in sustainable tourism
- Involvement of local villages, e.g. via permits or reef access fees
Challenges:
- Limited infrastructure (e.g. electricity, emergency medicine)
- Increasing corrosion of wrecks and environmental concerns
- Dependence on a few resorts & dive operators