Eight Days in Chuuk - Day Three

Into the swing of getting up in time for breakfast at 7am (today waffles) and out of the first dive at 8am.

Dive 6 – Hoki Maru – 7,112 ton cargo ship. Were supposed to be getting some depth progression today. However, as we dropped into the blue above the wreck, Nick got a pain in his teeth, so Tomo made decision not to go to depth point at the props, but instead started straight into the cargo holds, though still did 42m. In the holds were bulldozers, jeeps and trucks (very like the Thistlegorm) and we made our way through the vehicles then on to another hold with depth charges all about. The front half of the ship was destroyed by a blast so we head outside along to this and back along the starboard side looking at the coral and fish.

No time to spare before next dive although delayed due to a rainstorm…
Dive 7 – Kiyosimi Maru – 8,614 ton passenger-cargo ship. A huge ship on her port side. Descended down to the torpedo hole and swam inside, passed a box of shells then worked through the levels of the ship to what was the top deck. Then headed along the ship in and out of holds including one with a bicycle leant against a wall. Looking up along the decks, the boat towered above us and the masts and stack were stretched out over the seabed. Managed to make it right to the stern and then swam back along the starboard side. More artifacts laid out on the top including chinaware.

Late back for lunch (pasta bake) so quick turn around for next dive. Nick decided against it, as his teeth issues seemed to be sinus related and he thought he should rest them. So it was just me and the lovely Woody following Tomo for…

Fighter planes in hold

Dive 8 – Fujikawa Maru – 6,938 passenger cargo ship. Ed said this was a stunning dive during the brief – and it was fantastic and probably my most stand out of the trip! This disappointed Nick left back on the boat but Ed promised we would get another chance to dive it again later in the week. We descended down to the top deck then through the living quarters: kitchen with wok still on the stove and coffee machine, passed the bathroom and down into the engine room. Woody “walked” down the stairway. We then weaved our way through the engine rooms including the machine shop with milling machine, lathe and vices. Then started through the holds one full of barrels and then turn a corner and we were in a hold full of fighter aircraft. The light was just perfect breaking through to deck to illuminate the scene. Even tried the joystick in a plane and it still moved around. We then went through holds with plane spares and suicide torpedoes. We emerged on the top deck and made our way to the bow gun, back along to look at some memorials which have been placed on the deck, then up the mast to do stops and watch the fish. Tomo played with one little one who was swimming in and out of a hole.

Back on Thorfinn, I found Nick dozing in bed with a headache so he’d ruled out diving again that day. But we had a bit of time to relax before...

Dive 9 – Emily Flying Boat. Woody and I decided we were happy to keep it short. All split up and pootled around the plane – I swam across the wings and looked around the engines. After about 20 mins, I looked up to find I had completely lost the others – they had both gone off to the surrounding reef and in the dusk light, vis was down to 10m so I couldn’t quite see them – though they both had a eye on me. All decided we’d done enough and ascended.

Night dive ruled out again (too tired), so showered and changed for dinner and again spent the evening relaxing in the lounge.