Dive Review of Thorfinn in
Micronesia/Chuuk

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Thorfinn: "Diving at Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon", Aug, 2004, by Andrew Falconer , WA, AU ( Top Contributor 51 reports with 29 Helpful votes). Report 10232.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude	N/A	Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Truk (or Chuuk) Lagoon is a tiny landmass in the Pacific Ocean, just north of the equator and is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. During the Second World War it was a supply base for the Japanese as they spread out across the Pacific as it provided an ideal sheltered harbor for them. In 1944 as the tide of war turned against them, the Americans carried out a surprise attack over several days, which sunk about 90 Japanese ships, mostly armed merchantmen. As a result Truk Lagoon is a wreck diving location like no other…… Location of Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon in the Pacific Ocean in relation to SE Asia and Australia Getting to Truk is not easy and is expensive. In 2004 I flew from Cairns to Guam (overnight) and then on to Truk with Continental Airlines. In 2017, it appears that there are no direct flights from Cairns (or anywhere else in Australia) to Guam. There are two options for diving at Truk: liveaboard or land based resort. The former is expensive, but is more convenient as the ship can provide close access to the wrecks, avoiding lengthy to and from boat rides. In 2004 I dived from the Thorfinn, a converted icebreaker, which has been at Truk Lagoon for many years and is still there. Thorfinn is large, roomy and is still powered by steam driven pistons! The ship itself does not move much, remaining anchored in the vicinity of most of the wrecks, with RIBs to access the dive sites. The wrecks range in depth from the surface to plus 50metres. There are about 25 wrecks that are commonly dived. On Thorfinn you can dive up to five per day, although for me three was enough. Welcome sign at the airport The liveaboard dive boat Thorfinn Propeller and cargo gantry of one of the wrecks Diving along the deck and inside one of the wrecks There are some interesting walls covered with marine growth Deck gun turret and barrel and tank on the deck (San Francixco Maru) An old rubber boot Engine room gauge Tea pot and container with bottle Bottles of sake lying everywhere Fuel tanks Fuselage of an aircraft Mobile anti aircraft gun on deck Small tank on deck Passageway Sankisan Maru & Seiko Kansho & Kiyosumi Maru Shinkoku & Shotan Maru Amagisan Maru & Betty Bomber Rio de Janeiro & San Francisco Maru {Some photos from this trip can be found at [ttms999.com link] }
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, South Africa, Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Cuba, Maldives, Chuuk, Galapagos, Phillipines, Sri Lanka
Closest Airport	Chuuk	Getting There	Via Guam
Dive Conditions
Weather		Seas
Water Temp	26-29°C / 79-84°F	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	10-15 M / 33-49 Ft
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Subscriber's Comments

By Simon C Mallender in Allambie, AU at Jan 18, 2019 19:37 EST

Chuuk/Truk has been notoriously hard to get to, but now Air Niugini fly from a few Australian capital cities to Port Moresby with good connections on to Chuuk ON WEEKENDS. Forget what you may have thought about Air Niugini - they now have a modern fleet of Fokkers.

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Dive Review of Thorfinn in Micronesia/Chuuk

Thorfinn: "Diving at Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon", Aug, 2004,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Thorfinn in
Micronesia/Chuuk