Chuuk (Truk) lagoon - Micronesia

Chuuk Lagoon, also known as Truk Lagoon, is a sheltered body of water in the central Pacific. It lies approximately 972 nautical miles (1,800 km) northeast of New Guinea, halfway between the Philippines and Hawaii. The lagoon is part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and is considered the mecca for wreck divers. The name “Chuuk” means mountains in the Chuukese language, and you’ll see why upon arrival—the mountain Tonnachau rises above Chuuk International Airport (TKK). Historically, the lagoon was known mainly as Truk (a mispronunciation of Ruk) until 1990. These days, most people use the word “Truk” for the lagoon, dive sites, and the wrecks, while “Chuuk” refers to the state and the land.

During World War II Truk Lagoon was the Empire of Japan's main base in the South Pacific theatre. Known as the “Gibraltar of the Pacific,” Truk Lagoon was a heavily fortified base for Japanese operations against Allied forces in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Truk served as the forward anchorage for the Japanese Imperial Fleet. February 17-18, 1944, Truk was devastated in one of the most important naval attacks of the war, "Operation Hailstone", Task Force 58 strikes resulted in the loss of 250 airplanes and 61 ships, in total 10 naval vessels (two cruisers, four destroyers and four auxiliary vessels), but mostly "Maru" or merchant vessels which had been left at anchor whilst some 200 other vessels were safely evacuated to Palau. Truk was eliminated as a major fleet anchorage for the IJN. The event is often referred to as the Japanese equivalent of Pearl Harbor. The result of this attack is now a collection of shipwrecks closely packed into a coral lagoon, many of which lie at depths easily reached by recreational divers. Making Truk Lagoon among the top wreck diving spots of the world with the world’s biggest ship and aircraft graveyard. 

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