In November 2023, we were back in the Pacific with divers from the « Abyss Underwater World Explorers » team for a diving session on the Japanese wrecks of the Truk Lagoon in Micronesia.
It is a long way from Europe to get to Truk Lagoon and the journey in itself if a real adventure with a guaranteed change of landscape. Situated in the North Pacific, between the Philippines and Hawaii, Truk Lagoon is part of the Federated States of Micronesia.
About Truk Lagoon …
During the Second World War, a large part of the Imperial Japanese Navy was based in this Lagoon, the administrative center being at Tonoas (South of Weno). The place was considered as the most important Japanese camp in the Pacific.
After the capture of the Marshall Islands at the beginning of February 1944, on the 17th of February 1944, the “Task Force 58”, the most important US naval air force in the Pacific, attacked the Japanese fleet based in Truck Lagoon and sinking some 50 ships. Code name “Hailstone operation”. This was one of the most important naval battles of the war in the Pacific.
80 years later, the sunken Japanese ships (armed freighters, huge tankers, ocean liners, small destroyers …) which are remarkably preserved and are inhabited by an abundant fauna is definitely the biggest and the most spectacular wreck cemetery in the world. A history book and a real museum under sea…
What happens at Truk Lagoon ?
Thanks to the outstanding skills and logistics of our local provider, we were able to dive with our rebreather as well as Trimix. As usual, the dives were exceptional!
Many divers amongst our group choose to dive with the mCCR Triton, which proved to be an excellent choice.
Indeed, for long distance trips of this type which require several plane connections, the mCCR Triton’s lightweight and the possibility to take it as a cabin luggage as a simple handbag is a major advantage.
Furthermore, for wreck dives at various depth in the warm waters of Truk Lagoon, including deep Trimix dives, the mCCR Triton configuration with a TS2 offers an exceptional flexibility, comfort and hydrodynamics. We fully enjoyed it, especially during our numerous dives inside wrecks. Used in an intensive manner, with 3 to 4 dives a day, our mCCR Tritons remained faithful to the end.
Who am I?
I have led numerous expeditions around the world and have over 35 years of professional experience in the world of nature sports and diving. In the 80s, as a leading speleologist and director of the “Ecole Nationale de Spéléologie”, I explored some of the biggest chasms on the planet at Pierre Saint-Martin, in the Caucasus, in Papua New Guinea and on the main karsts of Europe. At the same time, I organize and take part in numerous raids, including the famous Raid Gauloises®, notably in the Borneo jungles, the Sultanate of Oman, Patagonia and Tibet-Nepal.
I started diving in 1983 and as from the very first dives, I specialised in cave diving, rebreather diving, wreck hunting and deep diving. As a full-time diving professional for over 30 years, I am one of the technical diving pioneers in Europe and have also managed several diving schools in Belgium, Turkey, Egypt and France.
With over 13,000 dives, I carried out numerous exploration dives around the world (Egypt, Micronesia, Tunisia, Mediterranean...). In 2008, I was part of the international expedition exploring the famous Britannic wreck in Greece.
As an instructor trainer in both leisure and technical diving, I have a very good experience in training, with over 3,000 certifications to my credit with the main international certification agencies (IANTD, TDI, PADI, PADI TEC REC, SDI, DIR Rebreather, FFESSM and CMAS). Based in Nice, in the south of France, I am currently the Training Director of ABYSS Underwater World Explorers and CCR Triton Advanced Trimix Instrutor Trainer.
Shall we go back... or go somewhere else...
It goes without saying that we will not be leaving without our Tritons...
Very soon, we will be back in the Pacific for new explorations at Truk Lagoon and at Bikini Atoll, and it goes without saying that we will not leave without our Tritons...
Pat Vanstraelen
mCCR Triton Hypoxic Trimix Instructor Trainer
CCR Expedition Trimix Instructor