Truk - Day 3

We started diving on Wednesday with the plan to visit two wrecks that were a good distance away, so we were going to have lunch on Jeep Island, instead of coming back to the resort.  Some folks on the trip were going to take a "Wreck Diver" course that Tom was teaching, and Dan decided to help divemaster for the class.  So, I ended up diving with a new buddy, Mike.  I decided not to take my camera because I wanted to be a good buddy, rather than oblivious to everyone I was diving with like I do sometimes when I'm with Dan and taking pics.

The first dive of the day was the Rio de Janiero Maru.  This was a nice dive and we did some swim throughs.  Unfortunately, the day was kind of cloudy, which didn't make it as bright as it could have been underwater.  But, nice dive.  We then headed over to have lunch at Jeep Island.

Jeep Island from the boat.

Rough seas and no sun.

There is a cabin on Jeep Island that you can rent and stay at.

The other dive boat.

Jeep Island was super cool.  A bunch of dead coral had washed up onto shore and we were able to collect some of it.  I brought a few pieces home with me, even though it might not be technically legal.  But, it was dead.  Anyway, we had a great time on the island and then headed back out to the rough seas to do our second dive.

Our second dive of the day was the Gosei Maru.  This was a really nice dive, because there was a lot of coral and fish around the boat.   

About half of us decided to go on a third dive.  The dive was to an Japanese Fighter plane that was fondly termed the Betty Bomber.  The Dive was super cool.  We first dropped down to see the engines that were some distance from the plane.  Then we came up to the plane.  The back end was up and you could do a swim through the back and come out one of the side windows.  It was so cool.  I watched Dan and Buck do it, and then I figured I could give it a try, so I did.

Part of the engine.

A huge and pretty purple sea cucumber that we found on the ocean floor.

My favorite pretty pink coral.

The cockpit of the Betty Bomber.

More sake bottles.

Video of Dan doing the swim thru from the tail of the plane through the window.

Dan coming out the window.

Inside the plane.  You could see the gun that the fighter pilots would have used.

There were so many fish swarming around, it was crazy!