Andrew Marriott describes the extreme contrasts of beauty and violence, adrenaline rush and tranquility that prevail in this haunting location.
CHUUK IS A DESTINATION with multiple personalities. On the one hand, very few people have ever heard of it. On the other, it is world famous amongst wreck divers. But even these hardy souls are not always sure what to call it: Chuuk or Truk? Dives can be deep, dark, dangerous and dramatic; then suddenly, in an instant, morph into spectacular colour and dazzling life. One minute one can be surrounded by the bones of sailors who died in violent battle, and moments later be gazing at beautiful, healthy soft corals in a kaleidoscope of colours while surrounded by thousands of fish.
This group of small islands is properly called Chuuk State, part of the Federated States of Micronesia. Located in the central Pacific just north of the equator, Chuuk is part of the Caroline Islands. When checking in to travel here, the airport clerk will likely have no idea where you are going when you say “Chuuk”. Just tell them to draw a line from Sydney to Tokyo and stop almost bang in the middle. The islands and country may be called Chuuk today, but they were made famous by the name Truk. Today Truk is used in reference to the actual lagoon where the famous wrecks are resting, so you travel to Chuuk to dive Truk Lagoon.
This story is from the Issue 06 - 2016 edition of Scuba Diver.
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This story is from the Issue 06 - 2016 edition of Scuba Diver.
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