Truk Lagoon (Chuuk)

Region: Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia (Western Pacific)
Type: WWII wreck diving, coral reefs, walls, passes
Significance: The world’s premier wreck diving destination; over 40 diveable WWII Japanese shipwrecks and aircraft within a single lagoon, sunk during Operation Hailstone in February 1944
First Wetpixel coverage: 2001
Key dive operators: Blue Lagoon Dive Shop, Truk Odyssey (liveaboard), Truk Stop Dive Center, SS Thorfinn (liveaboard), Truk Siren (liveaboard)

Overview

Truk Lagoon — officially renamed Chuuk Lagoon but universally known among divers by its former name — is part of Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia, located approximately 7 degrees north of the equator in the South Pacific (^[1]). The state “rubs shoulders with Palau, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Yap, The Solomon Islands, Guam” in a region of extraordinary marine biodiversity (^[2]). The lagoon is enclosed by a barrier reef of approximately 140 miles in circumference, creating a protected body of warm water (28-30C / 82-84F year-round) that shelters the largest concentration of diveable WWII shipwrecks on earth (^[3], ^[4]).

Japan acquired Chuuk after WWI and established it as a major base of operations in the Pacific during WWII. A US photographic overflight revealed the vulnerability of Truk to aerial bombardment, and most major Japanese fleet units were moved out. Two weeks later, in February 1944, the US launched Operation Hailstone, a two-day aerial bombing offensive aimed at neutralizing the Japanese threat at Chuuk. The operation resulted in the loss of approximately 250 Japanese aircraft and 45 ships (^[5], ^[6]). Forum member seansrs968, who visited during the 70th anniversary in 2014, described Operation Hailstone as “basically our version of Pearl Harbor against the Japanese Fleet” (^[7]).

The wrecks first came to worldwide attention in the 1970s after a documentary filmed by the Cousteau team was released (^[8]). Today, over 40 ships, aircraft, and a submarine are accessible to divers, most sitting upright and many within recreational diving depths. As expedition leader Pete Mesley summarized: “Without a shadow of a doubt the best consistent brilliant wreck diving on the planet” (^[9]).

The wrecks have become an underwater museum. Most were not salvaged after sinking, meaning much of what was aboard when they sank — artillery, tanks, ammunition, sake bottles, shoes, trumpets, bicycles, medical equipment, and personal effects — remains in place nearly 80 years later. Many of the ships designated “Maru” were merchant ships rather than warships; as Becca Boring noted, “most of the ships lost during Operation Hailstone were not bonafide military vessels, rather merchant ships aiding in the Japanese war effort” (^[10]). The ocean has transformed the wrecks into artificial reefs, with ship hulls covered in thriving soft and hard corals, sponges, and schools of fish (^[11]).

Key Wrecks

Fujikawa Maru

Originally a passenger/cargo carrier, the Fujikawa Maru was repurposed by the Japanese Navy as an aircraft ferry during WWII (^[12]). Sitting upright with maximum depth around 35m to the sand, it is considered one of the most photogenic wrecks in the lagoon and was recommended by a former liveaboard crew member as “your best bet” for combining marine life, coral growth, and artifacts (^[13]). The wreck is home to grey reef sharks, blue spotted stingrays, marble rays, bigeye trevally schools, chevron barracuda schools, and batfish (^[14]).

The Fujikawa Maru’s machine shop contains an air compressor nicknamed “R2D2” by visiting divers, which has become one of the most iconic photographic subjects in the lagoon. By 2014, the surrounding superstructure was in danger of collapse. The Truk Odyssey’s captain JJ asked divers not to request penetration to R2D2 as “it was unsafe, and they all had families who depended upon them” (^[15]). However, some guides continued to lead divers there, and forum member tdpriest ventured in alone on a subsequent visit, “taking more than a little time to identify R2D2 as he looks nothing like himself from the rear” (^[16], ^[17]). The king post showed significant deterioration between 2008 and 2014, partly because it was “pretty heavily loved” by visiting divers (^[18]). The wreck’s cargo holds also contain aircraft parts from its role as an aircraft ferry.

A 2006 trip report documented dive boats from other operators “pulling parts off the Fujikawa Maru with grappling hooks” rather than using moorings — damage that was “obvious and ongoing” (^[19]).

Shinkoku Maru

Originally a civilian tanker, the Shinkoku Maru served the Japanese Navy as a fleet oiler (^[20]). Forum members rated it among the best wrecks in the lagoon, praising its “epic engine room and lots of life on deck” (^[21]). The wreck features easy access to officers’ quarters where “there was no shortage of bathtubs,” an operating room “where bodies and wounds were once mended, now dark,” and stunning soft coral coverage that earned it a ranking as the second-best coral-covered wreck in the lagoon (^[22], ^[23]). A shallow tanker sitting in approximately 30m of water, the deck hosts rich marine life including anemones, zebra sharks (commonly called leopard sharks), hawksbill turtles, and spotted eagle rays (^[24]).

San Francisco Maru

A deep wreck with its deck at approximately 50-59m (165-195ft), the San Francisco Maru is considered a technical diving highlight. Its cargo holds contain Japanese military trucks, tanks, land mines, ammunition, and even an old fire engine — creating dramatic photographic subjects (^[25], ^[26]). The wheelhouse had mostly collapsed by 2014, diminishing what had been a spectacular backdrop for the tanks on deck (^[27]). Despite the depth, it remains one of the most sought-after dives; forum member seansrs968 noted the wreck “is upright” and expected it to “survive the longest” because “it went straight down and not on its side” (^[28]). The wreck was the subject of a well-known tank photograph that appeared on the cover of Dan Bailey’s book on Truk (^[29]).

Heian Maru

A Japanese submarine tender, the Heian Maru is the largest wreck in Truk Lagoon. Its cargo hold is the final resting place of a collection of Japanese long lance torpedoes (29’6” long, 26” diameter, 5,952 lbs with 1,080 lbs of explosive), and its bridge features periscopes — dramatic subjects for wreck photographers (^[30], ^[31]).

Other Notable Wrecks

• Yamagiri Maru — A civilian ship turned military transport. Sea fans and coral have decorated beams over the cargo holds. The remains are “a stark reminder of the gravity of war” (^[32], ^[33]). In 2006, a visiting diver described it as “one the better wrecks in terms of growth and things to see” (^[34]).
• Rio de Janeiro Maru — A passenger/cargo vessel turned Japanese submarine tender in 1940, then reclassified as a transport ship in 1943. Contains sake bottles in its holds. Its engine room was described as “one of the greatest wreck dives ever” (^[35], ^[36]).
• Nippo Maru — A Japanese cargo ship with beer bottles in its holds and engine room skylights that create dramatic natural lighting for photography (^[37], ^[38]).
• Hanakawa Maru — Rated as having the best soft coral coverage of any wreck in the lagoon, “probably the best in the world” by experienced wreck diver Perry Kuo (^[39]).
• Unkai Maru — A Japanese cargo ship built in the early 1900s. Becca Boring photographed its gauges, noting it was one of many merchant ships pressed into war service (^[40]).
• Oite — A destroyer at trimix depth (approximately 60m), considered a highlight for technical divers. Its engine room penetration is rated as “a real cave dive” requiring proper equipment and experience. The average engine room depth is 61m, with a maximum of 64m. Forum member kpoxaAU, who produced video inside the engine room, warned: “It is narrow, silty, 9/10 of the way is with no natural light access, you have to move very slowly, most places you can not turn” (^[41]).
• Fumitzuki — A destroyer sitting upright, whose bow split away from the body of the ship between 2008 and 2014 and now lies in the sand. Three divers died attempting interior penetrations on this wreck — a warning kpoxaAU cited against single-tank penetrations: “Fumitzuki - already has taken three lives recently off the people who thought they can go inside with singles. And Fumitzuki is just about 40msw” (^[42], ^[43]).
• Seiko Maru — One of many Japanese ships sunk during Operation Hailstone (^[44]).
• Momokawa Maru — Features a steering station and artifacts including lanterns (^[45]).
• Kensho Maru — Engine room penetration opportunities; rated among the most photogenic wrecks by forum member Oceanshutter after his 2015 visit (^[46], ^[47]).
• Betty Bomber — A Japanese Mitsubishi G4M bomber aircraft wreck in relatively shallow water, considered one of the most fun and photogenic sites. Forum member Oceanshutter produced a well-received video of it using a Canon 5D Mark II with 16-35mm f/4L lens in natural light, white-balancing off the sandy bottom (^[48]).
• Aikoku Maru — A deep wreck explored by technical divers, with its deck gun sitting at approximately 160ft, pointed upward from when it was sunk in full battle. The wreck goes to approximately 200ft (^[49], ^[50]).
• Nagano Maru — Another deep wreck at approximately 60m, highlighted by rebreather expedition teams (^[51], ^[52]).
• I-169 Submarine — A Japanese submarine accessible to divers, though penetration requires sidemount configuration. “Different, but as complex as Oite’s engine and not much to see” (^[53]).
• Hoki Maru — A wreck at approximately 42m, part of expedition itineraries (^[54]).
• Gosei Maru — A shallower wreck at approximately 22m, suitable for extended recreational dives (^[55]).

Beyond the Wrecks

While Truk is primarily known for wrecks, the lagoon’s barrier reef offers largely unexplored reef diving. Brandi Mueller explored the outer reef aboard the Truk Odyssey and found walls, passes, carpet anemones, large patches of hard corals, sea fans, black corals, and abundant sharks — grey reef sharks and silver tip sharks — as well as manta rays and eagle rays. “A week wasn’t long enough and we didn’t even make it half way around the barrier reef. So much more to explore” (^[56]).

Expedition leader Jean Tresfon noted that “the best kept secret of Truk is of course that there is so much other fantastic diving other than the wrecks. There are caves, walls, shark cleaning stations and much more, but most tourists only want the wrecks” (^[57]). A 2006 trip report described “Shark Island” near the lagoon where 14 white-tip and black-tip reef sharks were observed at a cleaning station, with the sharks coming in, flaring out, hovering, and slowly sinking as wrasse went about their work (^[58]).

There are also shore-accessible sites near the Blue Lagoon Resort, including the remains of an old US LST (Landing Ship, Tank) and a sunken pontoon bridge in approximately 15 feet of water, as well as an old Japanese tank (^[59]).

Wreck Deterioration

A recurring theme in Wetpixel discussions from 2007 onward is the progressive deterioration of the wrecks. As early as 2007, a trip report noted “with the warm salt water and the multitude of divers that visit the area each year, the wreck has been deteriorating significantly, even in the past few years” (^[60]).

Forum member fforbes compared photos from trips in 2008 and 2014, documenting significant changes in just six years: the Fumitzuki’s bow had split away, the Fujikawa Maru’s R2D2 area was at risk of collapse, and the San Francisco Maru’s wheelhouse had mostly collapsed (^[61]).

Max Gleeson, an Australian filmmaker producing a DVD series on the wrecks, noted that while “divers may have caused damage over the years, time is the major factor in the state of wrecks” and that Truk’s protected lagoon waters spare the wrecks from large ocean swells, meaning most remain “in excellent condition” (^[62]). One forum member who first dove Truk in 1998 observed on each return that “a little more is gone” (^[63]).

Community members also noted the disappearance of sharks from the wrecks. Forum member oneyellowtang, who first dove Truk in the early 1980s, recalled that “you couldn’t descend on any of the wrecks without seeing 5-10 sharks (grey reefies) circling near the bottom,” but by the 2010s and 2020s, shark sightings had become rare — a 2023 visitor (phxazcraig) saw only a single reef shark on one wreck across the entire trip (^[64], ^[65]).

Disputed: oneyellowtang gives his first Truk visit as 1982 in one thread (^[66]) and 1983 in another (^[67]).

Diver damage was also documented. A 2006 visitor observed dive boats “pulling parts off the Fujikawa Maru with grappling hooks” rather than using moorings (^[68]). Forum member tdpriest questioned whether “bubble damage from a generation of divers” contributed to structural deterioration (^[69]). The dive guides’ habit of “arranging” artifacts on wrecks for photographic purposes also drew criticism from experienced divers (^[70]).

The consensus among experienced Truk divers on Wetpixel was clear: “if you haven’t been there I would recommend going” before further deterioration occurs (^[71]).

Photography and Videography

Equipment Recommendations

Truk Lagoon overwhelmingly favors wide-angle photography. As one 2007 trip report explained: “The diving around here really lends itself primarily to wide angle photography… with all the wrecks and the history behind them, I’ve been shooting primarily wide angle on the majority of the dives” (^[72]).

Forum discussions repeatedly emphasize fisheye and ultra-wide rectilinear lenses as essential. Bruce Yates tested the Canon 8-15mm circular fisheye extensively in Truk in 2012, concluding it would become his “go-to lens for ultra-wide angle photography.” He used the Aquatica megadome with the hoods removed to shoot at 8mm, and also used it at 15mm as a replacement for his Sigma 15mm fisheye. The results sparked a discussion with Alex Mustard about whether the circular fisheye novelty would last, with Yates arguing the lens “allows for composition that simply isn’t possible otherwise” (^[73]).

Technical wreck divers traveling with rebreathers and extensive dive gear favored compact wide-angle solutions. The Nauticam WACP and WWL-1B were discussed as alternatives to bulky 230mm dome ports for wreck photography, with the WACP appealing to those who “don’t want to cart around the 230mm dome” alongside rebreather and tech diving equipment (^[74], ^[75]).

For ambient light shooting of deep wreck exteriors, experienced wreck photographers recommended slower shutter speeds (as low as 1/40th) with a steady hand over high ISO settings, with auto white balance and post-processing adjustments (^[76]). Video shooters found Canon cameras particularly well-suited for Truk’s waters due to their manual white balance rendering, with forum member Oceanshutter achieving dramatic natural-light wide-angle video on the Betty Bomber by white-balancing off the sandy bottom. He used a Canon 5D Mark II with the 16-35mm f/4L lens and Sola video lights only for wreck interiors, noting “Canon cameras have such a good MWB, you don’t need” filters (^[77]).

In 2012, Wetpixel member David Cheung (CheungyDiver) took a RED EPIC M in a Gates Deep Epic prototype housing to Truk for a professional shoot — an early example of cinema-grade cameras being used on the wrecks (^[78]).

Early Wetpixel contributors also documented Truk with digital cameras. In 2004, forum member NLAVD posted a gallery shot with a Canon 300D (Digital Rebel) using a Sigma 14mm f/2.8, Canon 50mm compact macro, and the kit lens, producing some of the earliest digital SLR images from the lagoon on the forum (^[79]).

Challenges

Visibility in the lagoon is moderate and variable, with silt easily stirred up by divers, particularly inside wrecks. Forum member thetrickster noted: “Its not 30m+ viz and due to some of the size of the wrecks can cast dark shadows making it appear a lot darker than it actually is, also add that due to the location, its very likely to be cloudy topside” (^[80]). A 2007 trip report noted that visibility on shallower wrecks (to about 100ft) was around 40-50ft, while deeper wrecks (150ft+) had 80-100ft visibility (^[81]).

Divers on liveaboards and land-based operations reported that visibility could become “zero vis” inside engine rooms when another group of divers arrived partway through their dive (^[82]). Expedition leader Pete Mesley noted that inner lagoon wrecks could average only 6-10m visibility, while outer lagoon wrecks had much better conditions (^[83]).

Several forum members discussed the issue of dive guides “arranging” artifacts on the wrecks for photographic purposes, which experienced expedition diver Jean Tresfon found “quite disturbing” as it “seemed fake and actually detracted from the experience” (^[84]).

Dive Operations

Blue Lagoon Resort and Dive Shop

The Blue Lagoon Resort (BLR) is the primary land-based accommodation and dive operation in Chuuk, described as “a very large operation for Truk” and essentially “the only hotel” (^[85]). It operates small boats with dual 40HP Yamaha outboard motors, typically running two dives per day — one morning (departing 9am), one afternoon (departing 2pm). For photography, the land-based approach offers the advantage of having “just myself and two or three buddies on a boat” rather than an entire liveaboard group, allowing divers to “pick our own wreck and not worry about crowds” (^[86]). BLR is tech and camera friendly and has been operating for decades — one diver reported it was “basically the same way” in 2023 as when he first stayed there in 1982, noting that the food was consistently good but the service could be erratic (^[87]).

Repeat visitors thetrickster praised the resort’s “nice rooms, nice food, relaxing resort (but very basic…)” and the “banana pancakes” (^[88]). The resort’s cost advantage over liveaboards was noted by filmmaker Max Gleeson: “You can stay and dive at the Blue lagoon for near two weeks for what it costs for one week on the Odyssey” (^[89]).

Truk Odyssey

The 132-foot Truk Odyssey liveaboard was consistently praised as the premier diving vessel in the lagoon. It moors directly over the wrecks, eliminating long boat rides and providing “complete freedom to dive when you want and how you want” (^[90]). The boat features nine staterooms (six at 14’ x 8’ with king or twin beds, two single staterooms at 11’ x 6’, and one at 10’ x 9’ with double/twin bunk), all with private ensuite facilities. It supports up to five dives per day and is very tech-diver friendly, accommodating rebreathers, deco gas, stage bottles, and custom bottom mixes (^[91], ^[92]). A 2006 trip report praised it as deserving “every bit of the reputation it has,” noting the crew would even carry elderly photographers’ cameras (^[93]). Photography workshop trips were regularly organized aboard the Odyssey (^[94]).

In 2015, a typhoon struck Chuuk, blowing the Odyssey and the Truk Siren liveaboard ashore. The Siren was “heavily looted and vandalised and is possibly a write-off,” while the Odyssey “looks to be repairable but will have to be moved elsewhere for repairs because there are no facilities in Chuuk” (^[95]).

Truk Stop Dive Center

The Truk Stop, located in town, earned high praise from technical divers for its gas-filling capabilities, including helium via a Haskel pump at the lowest cost in the lagoon. Frequent visitor kpoxaAU, who returned annually from 2007, provided a detailed endorsement praising dive guide Rob specifically for his wreck knowledge and conservation ethic: “Who in Lagoon definitely cares about wrecks and wrecks conservation? Who never damage or broke a thing, never move the bone? … Rob, Cindy and the Truk Stop DC crew. The only” (^[96]). The Truk Stop also offers hotel accommodation and was noted as a lower-cost alternative to the Blue Lagoon Resort (^[97]).

SS Thorfinn

A large vessel with “an interesting history” that operated more as “an anchored hotel” than a traditional liveaboard, using chase boats (skiffs) to reach dive sites. Reviews were mixed — praised for size and the colorful “Captain Lance” but criticized for mediocre food, dive limitations (aluminum 80 tanks only, no-deco policy), and declining conditions. Forum member thetrickster, who had stayed aboard, reported “oily air, cockroaches everywhere and the general feeling on the boat, was the crew weren’t happy” on a later visit (^[98], ^[99]).

Truk Siren

The Siren Fleet’s Truk Siren liveaboard began operations in late 2014. Forum member tdpriest expressed concern before its launch that the operators “haven’t put in much work on the ground, discussing itineraries, moorings, supplies and so on” (^[100]). The vessel was destroyed by a typhoon in 2015, blown ashore and subsequently looted (^[101]).

Diving Logistics

Reaching Truk requires flights through Guam or via the Continental Island Hopper route through Honolulu with stops at various Micronesian islands. A typical layover in Guam is more than 12 hours, requiring passengers to collect checked luggage (^[102]). The Island Hopper route, while adding a day, avoids severe jetlag and offers daytime flying with island views (^[103]). In January 2020, Micronesia was briefly shut down to incoming flights due to COVID-19 travel restrictions (^[104]).

Water temperatures are consistently warm at 28-30C (82-84F), with most divers comfortable in a 3mm wetsuit, though 5mm was recommended for extended decompression dives where divers are stationary for long periods (^[105], ^[106]).

The diving at Truk is uniquely deep compared to most tropical destinations. Every divemaster carries a full spare tank, all dive boats hang a tank (usually nitrox) at 20 feet for decompression, and most serious divers use twin tanks or rebreathers. Single-tank recreational divers can enjoy the shallower wrecks but are limited to about 6-7 ships and the Betty Bomber, with dive times around 35 minutes (^[107]). Nitrox is widely available and inexpensive (approximately $8 per fill as of 2023). Forum member thetrickster provided a detailed 2013 dive log showing 22 dives over 7 days on a single 13-liter tank with nitrox, achieving 50+ minute runtimes on wrecks from 22m to 60m (^[108]).

Rebreather expeditions, such as those organized by Pete Mesley from New Zealand, allow 50+ minute bottom times on deep wrecks (60m+) and approximately 100 minutes on shallower afternoon dives, dramatically expanding what can be explored and photographed. Mesley organized annual Truk trips starting in 2008, catering “almost exclusively for rebreather divers and their special requirements” (^[109]). His 2009 expedition brought together teams from Britain (led by Leigh Bishop), New Zealand, and South Africa, with a plan for maximum five people per boat and one boat per wreck to minimize silting (^[110]).

Chuuk itself is a remote and underdeveloped destination. Forum member thetrickster warned that it is “a poor poor place” with bad roads and minimal infrastructure, advising comprehensive travel insurance due to limited healthcare facilities. Another visitor noted “unemployment is high and with that crime,” recommending visitors not venture out alone at night (^[111]). A 2007 trip report described families “living in small concrete homes with no electricity and running water. Sometimes 15 to a small house” and described rampant government corruption, including a convicted magistrate who “appealed his sentence to allow for him to be free in the mornings to try cases at court and go back to jail for the rest of the day” (^[112]). Currency is US dollars.

Media Coverage

• 2004: ScubaCore DVD magazine Issue 2 featured “in-depth Dive Portraits of Truk Lagoon with its famous WWII wrecks aboard the Truk Odyssey” alongside an interview with Eric Cheng (^[113]).
• 2007: Discovery Channel’s “Quest for Sunken Warships” series featured an episode called “Operation Hailstone” about the battles near Truk. All underwater footage was shot with an Amphibico Phenom housing by Dan Crowell, alongside dive team members David Ulloa and Becky Kagan (^[114]).
• 2008: Blancpain’s luxury publication “Editions Fifty Fathoms” featured photographer Udo Kefrig’s portfolio on Truk Lagoon, inviting readers to “relive the historical air battle around Truk Lagoon and immerse yourself into the mysterious world of shipwrecks” (^[115]).
• 2011: DAN’s Alert Diver winter 2011 issue included articles on the deep wrecks of Chuuk (^[116]).
• 2013-2014: Australian filmmaker Max Gleeson produced a multi-part DVD series “Shipwrecks of Truk Lagoon” for the Blue Lagoon Dive Shop (^[117], ^[118]).
• 2016: Becca Boring’s Wetpixel Full Frame portfolio captured the haunting interiors of Truk wrecks, emphasizing the contrast between exterior coral-covered beauty and “stark, uninviting” interiors. The feature received praise for its natural lighting, with one commenter calling the photos “extraordinary and moving” (^[119]).
• 2017: Brandi Mueller’s Full Frame feature for Wetpixel showcased both the wrecks and the rarely-explored outer barrier reef, with images from the Shinkoku Maru, Yamagiri Maru, Momokawa Maru, San Francisco Maru, and reef dives with grey reef sharks and silver tip sharks (^[120]).

Guidebooks

Tim Rock, a Lonely Planet author and photojournalist who has lived in Micronesia for over three decades, pioneered diving and snorkeling guides for the islands of Micronesia, including a dedicated Truk Lagoon guide. His guide series has been updated multiple times (2016, 2019) and is available as print editions and ebooks. The 2016 update covered Palau & Yap, Truk, Pohnpei & Kosrae, Guam & the CNMI, and Bali. The 2019 update added Raja Ampat & Northeast Indonesia, co-authored with Simon Pridmore (^[121], ^[122]).

Wetpixel Community Discussion

Truk Lagoon has been one of the most discussed destinations on the Wetpixel forums from 2004 through 2023, appearing in dedicated trip report threads, gear recommendation discussions, and photography technique conversations. The earliest Wetpixel forum discussion found is from 2004, when NLAVD posted a gallery of images shot with a Canon 300D (Digital Rebel) (^[123]). Coverage expanded through the mid-2000s with trip reports from the Odyssey and Blue Lagoon (^[124], ^[125]), and continued through 2023 with trip reports from phxazcraig documenting the lagoon’s current state (^[126]).

Key community discussion themes include: planning advice for liveaboard vs. land-based operations, equipment preparation for deep wreck diving, photographic technique for ambient light and interior wreck shooting, wreck deterioration documentation, and the balance between recreational and technical diving access.

Timeline

• 1944-02: Operation Hailstone sinks approximately 45 Japanese ships and destroys 250 aircraft in Truk Lagoon (^[127])
• 1970s: Cousteau team documentary brings Truk’s wrecks to worldwide attention (^[128])
• 2004: Early digital SLR photography at Truk documented on Wetpixel forums (^[129])
• 2004: ScubaCore DVD features Truk Lagoon dive portraits (^[130])
• 2006: RogerC trip report documents grappling hook damage to Fujikawa Maru (^[131])
• 2007: Discovery Channel “Quest for Sunken Warships” airs Operation Hailstone episode (^[132])
• 2007-12: Warren_L’s detailed trip report documents technical diving on deep wrecks with CCRs (^[133])
• 2008: Blancpain’s “Editions Fifty Fathoms” features Udo Kefrig’s Truk portfolio (^[134])
• 2008-2009: Pete Mesley organizes rebreather expeditions to Truk (^[135])
• 2012-01: David Cheung (CheungyDiver) takes RED EPIC M in Gates housing to Truk (^[136])
• 2012-02: Bruce Yates tests Canon 8-15mm circular fisheye at Truk (^[137])
• 2013-2014: Max Gleeson produces “Shipwrecks of Truk Lagoon” DVD series (^[138])
• 2014-02: 70th anniversary of Operation Hailstone; fforbes documents wreck deterioration (^[139])
• 2015-03: Oceanshutter visits; rates Fujikawa, Kensho, Shinkoku, and Betty Bomber as most photogenic (^[140])
• 2015-04: Typhoon damages Truk Siren and Odyssey liveaboards (^[141])
• 2016-02: Becca Boring’s Wetpixel Full Frame portfolio published (^[142])
• 2016: Tim Rock dive guide series updated with Truk Lagoon edition (^[143])
• 2017-10: Brandi Mueller’s Wetpixel Full Frame feature covers wrecks and outer reef (^[144])
• 2019: Tim Rock guide series updated again (^[145])
• 2020-01: Micronesia closed to incoming flights due to COVID-19 (^[146])
• 2023-03: phxazcraig trip report documents current conditions; sharks nearly gone from wrecks (^[147])

References

• ^[167] — 7 replies; lens review by bmyates