Dive in Chuuk

“The passages here are perhaps the tightest and most labyrinthine of all the wrecks we dive, so much so that anxiety takes second stage to focusing on my diving technique, tailored for demanding environments like this. I take comfort in the fact that I’ve done some cave and technical diving. Not a requirement for diving Chuuk Lagoon by any means, my training has still given me skills and experience that equip me to dive without stirring up silt, to streamline my equipment and to know how to deal with issues should they arise in an enclosed environment where we move in single file. I keep my hoses tucked in tight and I fin barely enough to get propulsion, pivoting and twisting through bars, ducking below hanging lines and passing through shafts. This dive transcends a mere underwater excursion; it’s akin to a cave dive, demanding precision, caution and an acute sense of self.”

“The planning pays off. At 180 feet I feel calm. I fin slowly through Hold 1 and 2, examining mines and bombs teetering one on top of another. A vehicle, precariously balanced on the tween decks, etches a vivid picture of a bygone era, transporting me momentarily into a different time.”