Wreck of the Fujikawa Maru (Rico Oldfield)

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1 132 Divequest For reservations or enquiries call TRUK, MICRONESIA The ultimate in wreck diving by divers visiting Truk. Today, only one of its masts pokes out of the water, but below the water the bow and forecastle are still well preserved, as are the bow and stern guns. The bow is heavy with soft corals and seafans while the bow gun is a cleaning station and a home to some large Napoleon Wrasse. The superstructure lies at 15 metres and four Japanese fighter planes can be found in hold No. 2 by swimming through two deck levels. Staggeringly, the control columns and certain other controls are still moveable! It is even possible to climb into the cockpit of some of the planes if great care is taken. This No. 2 hold goes down to a depth of 27 metres. A total of six holds contain a variety of debris and relics, including some live ammunition. No. 4 hold is where a torpedo struck the boat and it is possible to swim through the gaping hole in the vessel s side. At 42 metes to the bridge, the San Francisco Maru is a very deep dive, but for some divers well worth it. This has been named as one of the best wrecks in Truk in terms of the contents of its holds and the war relics on its deck. No. 1 hold is almost full of live hemispherical beach mines. The spectacular contents of hold No. 2 include three Japanese Ha-Go light tanks, a high velocity anti-aircraft gun and a staff car. Other holds contain torpedoes, the remains of some lorries, and much ammunition. The ship s propeller and rudder have not been explored due to their excessive depth. Season: Year-round diving Visibility: metres Water temperature: C Seven degrees north of the equator lies the famous Truk (or Chuuk) Lagoon. Truk has long been acknowledged as the world s ultimate wreck site for, amazing as it seems, almost 70 charted wrecks lie inside the lagoon! The calm waters hold the remains of the Japanese fleet that was targeted by Operation Hailstone in February 1944 during World War II. The resulting battles led to the numerous wrecks now found within the lagoon. Some 275 Japanese planes were downed and over 60 ships were sunk! These amazing wrecks, which have been Wreck of the Fujikawa Maru (Rico Oldfield) protected from plunder and still contain the remains of those who died in them, are now enrobed in coral. Truk is most certainly a grim reminder of the violence of war but also a tribute to nature s ability to turn horror and death into beauty and life. Famous wrecks include the 7,000 tons Fujikawa Maru, a large freighter that was transporting aircraft and ammunition, and the 4,800 tons Sankisan Maru with its cargo of lorries and machine guns, but these are just a small sample of the fabulous experiences to be had in this wreckdiver s paradise. The beautiful Fujikawa Maru is often one of the first wrecks to be explored At the Sankisan Maru it is 24 metres to the seabed and consequently well within sport divers limits. This medium-sized freighter now rests upright on a slope. As one descends the shot line to the deck, the cargo immediately appears, for the remains of Toyota and Isuzu trucks lie exposed. The contents of hold No. 1 are a diminishing collection of small arms, some in wooden crates and boxes and some scattered loose. Coral growth all over the deck makes this a very pretty wreck. At 3 metres the foremast and its crosstree make a fascinating safety stop with oysters, sea squirts, tube sponges and lots of damselfish to examine. Although best known for its wreck diving, Truk has some spectacular reef diving, particularly on the outer walls of the lagoon. The passes and dropoffs in particular boast prolific fish life and some sites have such clear water

2 Divequest that it is essential to monitor depth to make sure that you do not descend too far! TRUK BLUE LAGOON RESORT Located in a lush tropical setting among tall coconut palms, the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort (the only resort hotel on Moen Island) offers a breathtaking view of the famous Truk Lagoon. This middle-sized hotel offers a reasonable standard of accommodation, but is not luxurious. The hotel s low two storey design, with 56 spacious rooms, blends with the island s tropical atmosphere. Superior rooms (which are marginally nicer) are on the first floor, Standard Rooms are on the ground floor. The restaurant offers local seafood dishes as well as International and Asian cuisine. A beach bar and cocktail lounge provide the perfect setting for a relaxing drink after diving. Wander through the palmshaded gardens or take a refreshing swim in the lagoon. The famous Blue Lagoon Dive Shop, Truk s premier dive centre, is our choice for the finest shore-based diving. Blue Lagoon Dive Shop was owned by the late Kimiuo Aisek, who witnessed the battles as a youth and subsequently charted many of the lost wrecks, and is now run by his son Gradvin. Divers are collected from the dock outside the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort each day by the fast wooden dive boat from Blue Lagoon Dive Shop. Nitrox is available for an additional charge, payable locally. 740 (non-divers: 350) for 7 nights 853 (non-divers: 398) for 8 nights Airport transfers. 7 or 8 nights accommodation on a twin/share basis in a Standard Room at the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort. 6 or 7 days diving (2 boat dives per day), dive guide, cylinders and weights. Please note: A Chuuk State Dive Permit fee, currently US$35 per person, is payable locally. Supplement for a third boat dive: 20 per day. Additional Nights: 113 (without diving: 48) Room Upgrade Supplement: 2 per night in a Superior Room. Single Occupancy Supplement: 38 per night Short Stays: Those making short stays at the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort in connection with a Thorfinn or Odyssey cruise will be charged the additional night price for each night spent at the hotel, plus 7 for each airport transfer. Deposit: 200 THORFINN In one week on the famous SS Thorfinn it is possible to explore more than 30 of the 60 magnificent shipwrecks of Japan s Imperial 4th Fleet. Condemned to a watery grave more than 50 years ago by the US naval air attack in Operation Hailstone during World War II, these beautiful wrecks lie within the 822 square mile lagoon. Beyond the wrecks lies the stunning reef wall encrusted with coral and guarded by sharks. The refurbished Thorfinn is the largest and also one of the bestregarded liveaboard vessels in the Pacific, with no less than 21 crew for a maximum of passengers. It is a comfortable but not a luxury liveaboard. Eleven fully air-conditioned staterooms each have a vanity unit, TV, VCR and large window. Seven staterooms feature double or queen-sized beds with an adjacent single berth and private bathrooms with head and shower, while the eighth stateroom is essentially similar, but smaller than the others and lacking the single berth). Three additional and very attractive large, bright rooms share two shower rooms and two toilets. These very pleasant rooms are very popular with couples or groups of friends travelling together who appreciate the extra space provided by the larger rooms and are happy to share bathroom facilities. The crew of Thorfinn are dedicated to cater to your every need. The salon features a full bar, large ocean aquarium, an entertainment centre with video, large screen TV and a splendid video library. The open air lounge has a sun deck with loungers and a shaded area where one can enjoy a cool drink or a tasty snack between dives or simply enjoy the splendid views from the boat. The eight-seater hot tub on deck is a popular spot to relax after dives! Once you have set up your gear on the first day the crew will look after it for the rest of the week, leaving you free to enjoy what you have come for so just roll back into the water. The twin-engined aluminium tenders each carry a maximum of 6 divers and a dive guide from the mother ship to the dive sites, so there is plenty of time to explore the wonders of each wreck without any possibility of overcrowding. In addition, two 10-metre RIB dive launches have twin 150 HP engines, freshwater showers, triple tiered camera tables, under-sea lockers, and gear bins. On these boats, 2 dive masters and a boatman usually escort a complement of 8 divers. Underwater photographers have special facilities on board Thorfinn. There are cameras and videos for rental. The dive deck has a photography table for storage and servicing photographic equipment and there is a specially stabilized charging station. Separate rinse tanks are designated as cameraexclusive. Nitrox fills are normally up to 32%. but higher levels of Oxygen are available on request. Pony bottles can be filled at an extra charge, payable locally. There are no depth limits imposed by Thorfinn within the lagoon, but divers are expected to retain sufficient air for safe ascents from depth and to make a minimum of three protracted ascent stops. EAN staged bottles will be provided on request. Thorfinn is anchored in the sound between Dublon and Fefan islands, to the south of the island of Moen, and offers 7 nights packages commencing every Saturday throughout the year. The ship stays at anchor and all diving is by tender (with Nitrox: 1297) Airport/hotel transfers. 7 nights on Thorfinn on a twin/share basis with full board (including nonalcoholic beverages). Up to 7 days diving (up to 5 dives per day, including night dives), dive guide, cylinders (with Nitrox fills for those paying the Nitrox rate) and weights. Please note: A Chuuk State dive permit fee, currently US$35 per person, is not included in the package price and is payable on board. Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing

3 134 Divequest For reservations or enquiries call to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a cabin to yourself a 50% supplement applies. Deposit: 650 (with Nitrox: 750) Small Group Incentives: A very attractive reduction per person, or a largely free place for a group leader, are available for a group of 6 or more. Please contact us for details. ODYSSEY Odyssey is, without doubt, the most spacious and comfortable way to explore the fabulous wrecks of Truk Lagoon. At over 40 metres in length, this award-winning and very comfortable boat is equipped with full safety gear and large fresh water tanks (so there is plenty of water for showers), and has a range of 1,200 nautical miles. In short she is equipped to offer everything that a diver could wish for in the search for the ultimate in wreck diving! The usual itinerary offers superb wreck diving within sport diving limits (though there are facilities for those who wish to carry out some deeper, decompression diving or wreck penetration), but whole boat charters can be offered as technical diving weeks with decompression diving and wreck penetration to extend the range of wrecks that can be dived. During the course of the week there are also opportunities to participate in some exciting shark diving, as well as diving on the outer reefs. Odyssey is frequently booked by those who want to take whole boat charters, with many groups booking this lovely boat over a year (or even two years!) in advance, but happily there are increasingly opportunities for individuals to travel on the boat. dine at one sitting. Full windows on either side of the boat give the dining salon a light and airy atmosphere. There is a comfortable and air-conditioned entertainment lounge where you can watch DVDs, view your slides, listen to music or just relax. There is also a bar so you can choose a beer or glass of wine, quench your thirst and think about the dives you have done and the ones you are going to do! For after the dive there is a freshwater shower and clean towels awaiting, as well as the chef s freshly prepared snacks to appease the after-dive hunger pangs! Breakfast includes a hot breakfast plus toast, cereals, fruit and fruit juices. Lunch ranges from salads, soups and warm dishes on the boat. Dinner is usually a hot and hearty meal always with a delicious desert. Most meals are served buffet-style. Once your gear is set up at your own seat and at your own dive locker, it need not be taken apart until you leave the boat. Tanks are filled, with air or Nitrox, at your seat for convenience. The spacious, slip-resistant dive deck has room for two divers plus two divemasters. Two ladders help you out of the water so that you can step to the convenient freshwater shower to rinse off. Two freshwater camera rinse tanks are just a few steps from the dive deck and the gear rinse tanks are just a couple of steps further. There is a sturdy, carpeted, three-tiered camera work table with battery charging facilities located in the lounge. A full range of diving equipment is available for rental by pre-arrangement. Nitrox fills are included in the cost of your holiday for those who are in possession of a Nitrox certification. Courses offered on the boat include Advanced Open Water, Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Photographer and Nitrox certification. There are no set routines and each day will vary depending on location and local conditions, but generally the day begins at 0700 with a hot breakfast before the first dive at Depending on the dive site, you will have up to two dives before lunch. During lunch the boat usually moves to a new location and after lunch two Odyssey is a fine, spacious liveaboard that carries a maximum of 16 passengers in nine staterooms. All staterooms are fully air-conditioned, fully carpeted and have en-suite bathrooms. All staterooms have port holes or windows. Six staterooms each have the capacity to offer two single beds, or one king-sized bed. Two staterooms have one single bed and one stateroom has a lower double bed and an upper single bed. Between dives guests can relax on the sundeck (either in or out of the shade). The airconditioned, fully carpeted dining salon is fitted out in tropical wood and there is space for everyone on the boat to Japanese tank on the San Francisco Maru and Great Barracudas (Rico Oldfield)

4 Divequest more dives are offered, one usually being a late afternoon dive. Night dives are offered each evening where possible. As most dives in Truk are quite close to each other, it is easy for the boat to move around. Not everyone is required to dive at the same time, so it is not unusual for a couple of divers to be the only ones on a 200- metre long wreck. Photographers in particular, will appreciate this unique feature which will offer them the opportunity to shoot particularly popular wrecks without having others in the picture. For those who charter the whole boat, the itinerary and diving schedule can be tailor-made and no day is really typical. Odyssey offers a range of technical diving equipment that includes twin tanks, with dual isolation valve manifolds, and also pony bottles, for use with decompression gases or as back-up tanks. Oxygen is available on board for an additional fee. Qualified individuals may take decompression dives and penetrate wrecks, but whole boat charters may arrange special deep technical weeks to include wreck penetration. To participate in the technical diving programme, divers must have proper certification for the dives, a technical BCD set to handle doubles, twin regulator set ups, decompression dive computers and tables, a line cutting device, an underwater slate and DAN insurance. The following wrecks and reef sites are offered from Odyssey, though not all sites are visited each week and are subject to local conditions and divers experience: Fujikawa Maru (0-40 metres), Yamagiri Maru (20-40 metes), Nippo Maru (16-30 metres), Heian Maru (12-20 metres), Sankisan Maru (0-30 Metres), Hoki Maru metres), Unkai Maru (10-40 Metres), Rio de Janeiro Maru (12-40 metres), Hanakawa Maru (3-25 metres), Fumitzuki Destroyer (25-40 Metres), Betty Bomber (12-20 metres), Momokawa Maru (25-50 metres), Shinkoku Maru (10-40 metres), San Francisco Maru (30-60 metres), Pizion Reef (5-60 metres), Shark Pass (15-40 metres, Twin Peaks (5-30 metres), Blue Channel (15-30 metres), Blue Wall (2-50 metres) and Shark diving on the outer reef. Odyssey operates out of the harbour at Truk Blue Lagoon Resort for 7 nights cruises (though longer cruises may be arranged for whole groups), departing every Sunday throughout the year Airport transfers if arriving/departing on Sundays. 7 nights cruise on Odyssey with full board (except dinner on the last night), including non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. 5 full days diving (up to 5 dives a day, including night dives), plus 3 dives on the last day, cylinders (Nitrox or air fills) and weights. Please note: A Chuuk State cruising tax and dive permit fee, currently US$60 per person, is not included in the package price and will be collected on Sunday before the boat departs from the dock. Dinner on the last night is not included, but guests will be provided with guidance about good local restaurants. Single Occupancy Supplement: If you are travelling alone and are willing to share a twin cabin with a fellow passenger of the same sex you can avoid paying any supplement. If you prefer to have a guaranteed twin cabin to yourself a 703 (2008) or 729 (2009) supplement applies. (The two single cabins, for which there is no supplement, cannot be pre-booked as the cruise operator utilizes them to solve rooming problems.) Deposit: 500 Whole Boat Charters: Groups of 7-9 divers are offered one additional free place. Groups of 10 or more divers are offered two additional free places. FLIGHTS The closest connections for Thorfinn cruises (Saturday/Saturday) are departure from London on Wednesday, with arrival in Truk on Friday, and departure from Truk on Saturday. For Odyssey cruises (Sunday/Sunday), the closest connections are departure from London on Friday, with arrival in Truk on Sunday, and departure from Truk very early on Monday. The airfares shown here were typical economy fares available at the time of going to press. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking. Our quote, which will include all taxes and fuel supplements applicable at the time of quotation, as well as our service charge, may be higher or lower than the airfares indicated here. The usual airfare deposit is 200. SINGAPORE AIRLINES Midday departure on Singapore Airlines from London (Heathrow) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, arriving at Manila the following afternoon. Continue that evening on Continental Micronesia to Truk via Guam, arriving on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday or Monday (arrival is in the morning, except on Sunday when it is the evening after a long layover in Guam). Depart from Truk on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday afternoon, arriving in Manila via Guam in the evening. After an overnight stay at an hotel in Manila, continue on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday on a Singapore Airlines morning flight to Singapore and connect with an onward flight to London (Heathrow), arriving the same evening. Alternatively, depart from Truk very early on Monday and arrive in Manila on Monday evening (after a long layover in Guam). After an overnight stay at an hotel in Manila, continue on a Tuesday morning flight to London via Singapore, arriving that same evening. Flights are also available on some days of the week from Manchester at an additional charge of for departures mid-march to mid-june (excluding Easter) 1248 for departures mid-january to early March 1254 for departures mid- to November 1282 for departures at Easter, mid to late June 1386 for departures early January 1397 for departures early December, late December 1461 for departures early July to early 1558 for departures before Christmas Manila-Truk Seasonal Supplement: 86 for departures from Manila in January, April to July, and mid to late December.

5 136 Divequest For reservations or enquiries call (Heathrow)/Singapore/Manila/ Singapore/London (Heathrow) by Singapore Airlines. Scheduled flights Manila/Guam/ Truk/Guam/Manila by Continental Micronesia Airlines. MALAYSIA AIRLINES Midday departure on Malaysia Airlines from London (Heathrow) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, arriving at Manila the following afternoon. Continue that evening on Continental Micronesia to Truk via Guam, arriving on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday or Monday (arrival is in the morning, except on Sunday when it is the evening after a long layover in Guam). If arriving in Manila on Saturday, overnight at an hotel there and continue on Sunday morning on Continental Micronesia via Guam, arriving at Truk on Sunday evening. Depart from Truk on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday afternoon, arriving in Manila via Guam in the evening. After an overnight stay at an hotel in Manila, continue on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday morning on a Malaysia Airlines afternoon flight to Kuala Lumpur and connect with an onward flight to London (Heathrow), arriving on Thursday, Saturday or Monday morning. Alternatively, depart from Truk very early on Monday and arrive in Manila on Monday evening (after a long layover in Guam). After an overnight stay at an hotel in Manila, continue on a Tuesday afternoon flight to London via Kuala Lumpur, arriving on Wednesday morning. Concessionary rates are available for connecting flights between Leeds/ Bradford, Manchester, Teesside, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and London. Please contact our office for details. on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Manila-Truk Seasonal Supplement: 86 for departures from Manila in January, April to July, and mid to late December. (Heathrow)/Kuala Lumpur/Manila/ Kuala Lumpur/London (Heathrow) by Malaysia Airlines. Scheduled flights Manila/Guam/ Truk/Guam/Manila by Continental Micronesia Airlines. Business Class Upgrades: These are available on Malaysia Airlines between the UK and Manila at attractive rates. Please contact our office for details. UNITED AIRLINES Midday departure on United Airlines from London (Heathrow) on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday, arriving in Honolulu in the evening, after a change of aircraft in Los Angeles. After an overnight stay in Honolulu depart on Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning for Truk, arriving on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday afternoon (after having crossed the International Dateline). Return flights leave Truk on Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning, arriving in Honolulu in the early morning of the same day (after re-crossing the International Dateline!) in time to connect with a Monday, Wednesday or Friday morning flight to London (Heathrow), arriving at midday on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Concessionary rates are available for connecting flights between Leeds/ Bradford, Manchester, Teesside, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and London. Please contact our office for details. (Heathrow)/Honolulu/London (Heathrow) by United Airlines. Scheduled flights Honolulu/Truk/ Honolulu by Continental Micronesia Airlines. OVERNIGHTS IN MANILA Rooms at the Heritage Hotel, a comfortable hotel situated relatively close to Manila Airport, cost 40 per person per night on a twin/share basis with breakfast. Single occupancy rates are double. Please note: Airport/hotel transfers are not included: local taxis are safe and inexpensive. OVERNIGHTS IN HONOLULU We can reserve rooms at the Best Western The Plaza Hotel for approximately 42 per person per night, payable locally in US$, on a twin/share, room-only basis. The single occupancy rate is double. The hotel is very conveniently situated at the entrance to Honolulu International Airport and has a free shuttle bus service. SINGAPORE STOP-OVERS Why not take the opportunity to explore Singapore as part of your holiday? Singapore Airlines fly between London and Singapore daily (and between Manchester and Singapore several times a week) and stop-overs are available at no additional airfare. Malaysia Airlines fly between London and Singapore via Kuala Lumpur daily and stop-overs are available at a relatively small charge. We can arrange your hotel accommodation: for details please see the Southern Thailand entry in this brochure for departures 16 January-15 June (excluding Easter), November 1293 for departures at Easter, June 1352 for departures 1-15 January 1400 for departures 1-9 December, December 1423 for departures 1-9 July 1459 for departures 10 July for departures December Weekend Supplement: 20 each way for departures from London or Manila 1572 for departures January to April (excluding Easter), November to mid- December, late December 1718 for departures May to June, September to October 1740 for departures at Easter 1858 for departures early July, late 1886 for departures mid-july to mid-, before Christmas Weekend Supplement: 10 each way for departures from London or Honolulu on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. COMBINING TRUK WITH BIKINI, YAP OR PALAU If you are going all the way to Truk, why not make it the wreck trip of a lifetime and combine Truk with Bikini s incredible warships? You will have paid for most of the airfare already! Alternatively, why not take in Yap with its incredible Manta Rays or Palau s strange and beautiful Rock Islands with their amazing diving? Please contact us and we can suggest potential itineraries, but bear in mind you need around three weeks holiday for a combination trip.