For those of you unfamiliar with this famous wreck destination, Truk Lagoon (or Chuuk Lagoon as it’s formally called today) lies in the heart of the Pacific and is part of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Diving Conditions and Environmental factors
The diving conditions in Truk Lagoon are excellent. The lagoon offers relatively easy diving and in terms of environmental conditions, Truk can be dived throughout the year. The water is a consistently warm 28-29°C/82-85°F, whether you are at 6m/20ft or 60m/200ft, and there are no major thermoclines. While the water is warm enough to dive in just shorts and a t-shirt, we recommend a full-length 3-5 mm wetsuit or a drysuit with light undergarments.
Bring Gloves and A hood for protection
This is especially true if you plan on making wreck penetration dives. There is sharp metal everywhere and you want to avoid tetanus, infections, and burns from oil or, even worse, aviation fuel. There are also occasional jellyfish blooms, some of these jellies can sting. Tidal patterns within the lagoon can be complex but the tidal range is generally small and the currents encountered on most of the wrecks are minimal.
As you are diving inside the lagoon, visibility varies
Occasionally, the vis can drop to less than 10m/33ft in the Repair Anchorage, 20m/66ft is expected around Uman and the 6th Fleet Anchorage, and 30m/100ft is the norm in the 4th Fleet Anchorage south of Tonoas, where the deeper wrecks on The Dirty Dozen trip are located.
There is no monsoon or wet and dry seasons as such. Northeast trade winds blow from November and begin to fade away after April when the doldrums start to take over. From July to November, Truk Lagoon comes under the influence of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) when moist southerly winds and short tropical disturbances are more frequent. The daytime air temperature is normally between 28-31°C/82-88°F all year. Rain is normal but it generally comes in short, sharp showers with hot sunshine in between.
