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Diving Truk is growing more popular says Diverse Travel
Tailor-made holidays to Truk (Chuuk) are on the up as more divers look to tick this bucket-list destination, says UK tour operator Diverse Travel.
With some of the best WWII wreck diving in the world, it’s hardly surprising that more divers are looking to add this to their diving collection. The area is a memorial to the ships and aircraft that sunk in the natural lagoon, some deep and some shallow so giving all levels of diver the chance to experience a lifetime adventure.
Nestled in the South West Pacific, here are sunshine days and a wondrous delight both above and below the water. This was once a WWII Japanese stronghold where the Americans destroyed more aircraft and ships in a two day attack than any other during the war. Today these wrecks, over 60 ships and 250 airplanes, still carry their cargo, guns, ammunition and explosives now covered with corals in warm, clear waters.
With all the wrecks lying in the sheltered lagoon, guests can choose to dive from a liveaboard or resort no matter what the level of diving. Truk is also the perfect destination for technical divers with many dive centres offering tech services.
This is a great chance to combine it with a visit to Micronesia and the opportunity to snorkel at Jellyfish Lake in Palau, dive with the mantas of Yap and enjoy the warm water, lavish corals and flourishing marine life.
The best time to go is any time of the year with water temperatures between 28-29ºC.
Liveaboard prices are from £2795 per person for a 10 night package based on twin share including return flights from London Heathrow to Truk via Manila, accommodation, 7 nights on board, dives and transfers.
Resort prices start from £2550 per person for a 12 night package based on twin share including return flights from London Heathrow to Truk via Manila, 10 nights in Blue Lagoon Resort with breakfast and 9 days’ diving with three dives a day and transfers.
“Truk Lagoon has long been considered the Holy Grail of UK wreck enthusiasts, myself being no exception,” explains Jim Yanny, Diverse Travel’s owner. “So when I was finally privileged enough to dive Truk I have to admit that I was extremely excited; by then it had almost gained mythical status. It has to be seen to be believed, and given the increase in the number of clients booking to go there, now is the time to follow that dream.”
For more information visit www.diversetravel.co.uk, contact on Freephone 0800 915 4436 or email info@diversetravel.co.uk.
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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