World War II seems like such a long time ago for those of us who didn't experience it first hand. In preparation for our story on Truk, we read several books on the Pacific Theater of World War II. Reading the stories and looking at the pictures seemed to make the historical significance of what people did in that time more tangible. Truk Lagoon, and operation Hailstone, in which the American forces sunk a significant number of Japanese vessels.

Upon arrival in Truk we were pleasantly surprised by a few things. First of all, there's no shortage of dive sites that are diveable within recreational limits, on air and nitrox. Secondly, the wrecks have become artificial reefs, covered with colorful soft coral and anemones. Schools of fish inhabit the wrecks, and sometimes it's easy to forget that you're diving on a boat that was sunk sixty years ago. If you want a taste of history though, you just turn the corner, go up the ladder, and through the door and voila, you're in the engine room. Well, it's a bit more complicated than that, and it's usually easier if you follow the dive guides.

The wrecks are in good shape considering how long they've been there, and thanks to the conservation efforts of the Chuukese. We spent a week aboard the Odyssey, a large and spacious boat, with a crew that is both friendly and knowledgeable about the wrecks and dive sites in the lagoon. Join us for a ScubaCore Dive Portrait that shows how nature can turn wrecks into painted reefs.