Best of the Wrecks: Micronesia Diving Adventure
It's time to go back in time and explore the ghost fleet of WWII on this three-week diving holiday to Micronesia. Swim between the walls of sunken wrecks and spy sharks and rays gliding among colourful corals. You'll spend the first half of this holiday living the mantra of eat, dive sleep, repeat while staying on a liveaboard in Chuuk Lagoon before slowing down on the secluded, picture-perfect Sangat Island.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Spend seven nights aboard Chuuk Lagoon's finest liveaboard
- Explore sites such as Rio de Janeiro Maru, Hanakawa Maru, Fumitzuki Destroyer and many more
- Spy the sharks, rays, tropical fish and kaleidoscopic corals that have now claimed these sunken vessels
- Enjoy five nights on the idyllic Sangat Islands, exploring the 11 wrecks that dot the waters
Why Book with Original Diving?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Days 1-2: International Flights
Your journey begins today with an overnight flight to Guam, with a couple of stops along the way. Breeze through security with fast-track check-in and unwind in the lounge before getting cosy with a good movie for your 13-hour flight to Singapore. After a brief layover, you'll board a nearly four-hour flight (three hours and 50 minutes, to be precise) to Manila. From there, it's another three-hour-and-50-minute flight to Guam, followed by your final leg (it's worth it, we promise) to Chuuk Lagoon, a short one-hour-and-45-minute journey. Look out the window for your first views of this tiny island nestled in the Central Pacific.
On arrival, you'll take a scenic 20-minute drive along the western coast to your hotel. Once you've settled in, how about a barefoot walk along the waterfront or a dip to shake off the long-haul flights? Then enjoy a delicious meal and toast to the beginning of your epic adventure.
Days 3-5: Settle into Micronesia’s Rhythm
Sunlight peeking through the curtains is your natural wake-up call, but you're in no rush - you're on holiday after all. These two days are yours to enjoy at leisure as you ease onto Micronesia's rhythm.
Start your day with a tasty assortment of fresh fruits, steaming coffee and various hot dishes - don't miss the banana fritters. Although you can't dive immediately after your long flight, that doesn't mean that you can't grab a snorkel and begin to explore the crystal-clear blue waters and get your first glimpses of the colourful tropical reef fish. Consider an afternoon paddleboarding session or a trek through the lush jungle surrounding your hotel. Or simply spend your days lounging under coconut trees, basking in the warm sunlight and snacking on fresh papaya.
Day 6: Set sail
Rise and shine, your diving adventure begins today. After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the dock to board your floating hotel which is home for the next seven nights. Prepare for up to five dives a day as you explore the underwater wonders of Chuuk Lagoon - the world's best wreck diving destination.
Once you've been shown to your cabin, head to the sundeck to meet your fellow travellers before a briefing and sunset test dive. Post-dive, settle around the table to begin trading stories before your first slumber on the ocean.
Days 7 – 12 Eat, dive, sleep, repeat
Over the next five days, you'll be living the manta of eat, dive, sleep, repeat, and with over 50 wrecks dotting the seafloor, there's more than enough to keep you entertained. Each day brings new adventures, but here's a sneak peek at what to expect.
Enjoy a hot breakfast each morning, followed by the first dive briefing. Then it's into the water for two morning dives before lunch, during which the liveaboard usually moves to a new site - so yes, you'll be able to explore multiple sites in a day. Even better, the flexible liveaboard schedule means you and your buddy might have a 500ft wreck all to yourselves. There's then the option for more dives between lunch and dinner, but of course you can always kick back and relax on the deck to catch some rays before a post-dinner dive.
Expect to visit sites like Rio de Janeiro Maru, Hanakawa Maru, Fumitzuki Destroyer, Betty Bomber, Momokawa Maru, Shinkoku Maru, Aikoku Maru and San Francisco Maru. These wrecks are fascinating for their history and brought to life by the animals that now call them home.
If you're into underwater photography, Rio de Janeiro Maru is a fantastic spot with its photogenic propellers now covered in colourful corals. Shark enthusiasts will love Pizion Reef, a steep wall dive where resident reef sharks patrol the blue waters.
Days 13-15: Laid-back luxury on land
It's time to say goodbye to the liveaboard life and return to land for the final days of your Chuuk Lagoon adventure. After a last breakfast on deck and making sure you've got your new diving buddys' contact details, head back to your hotel for two days of laid-back luxury.
The hotel's dive shop is considered the best in Chuuk Lagoon, so you can be back in the water by lunchtime. Explore the waters from the shore, gliding over vibrant corals, spying resting turtles and darting tropical fish. Take a boat trip to swim with sharks and manta rays as the sun sets or explore the lush landscape and dine at a local eatery.
Day 16: Onwards to Manila
Enjoy a final breakfast in the gardens before heading back to the airport for your flight to Manila, via Guam (on the same one-hour-and-45-minute flight as before). After a short layover in Guam, it's a four-hour flight to Manila, where you'll spend one night. Hop into a taxi for a short drive to your hotel and settle in after your long day.
Day 17: Sangat Island awaits
The final adventure begins today. After breakfast, head back to the airport for a midday flight to Busuanga. The one-hour-and-20-minute flight offers views of lush islets floating on sapphire waters. On arrival, you'll be greeted by a hotel representative and driven to the Coron town pier to board a boat for the 40-minute journey to Sangat Island. As you approach this paradise, notice the solar panels on the resort's roofs - this eco-friendly resort is 100% solar-powered.
Settle into your beachfront bungalow, featuring hand-woven bamboo wall panels, and refresh yourself in the crystal-clear waters before enjoying a sundowner on the soft sand.
Days 18-19: Get back into the water
Wake up at your own pace; you're still on holiday after all, and start your day with a leisurely stroll along the white sand beach lined with coconut palms before enjoying breakfast at one of the resort's restaurants. Over the next two days, enjoy twice-daily dives at local sites. There are lots more wrecks to discover, with 11 scattered on the nearby sea floor, adorned with vibrant corals like those on the Okikawa Maru and Irako Maru.
But it's not just about the wrecks here. The underwater biodiversity is a delight too. Dive into lush coral gardens at Dynamite Point reef or experience the thrilling drift dive at Calumbuyan reef. Whether you're a diver or snorkeller, you can encounter grouper, tuna, lionfish and snapper. Sea snakes slither along the reef top and guides can show you the intricate macro life, including colourful nudibranchs, rare crustaceans and seahorses. And don't miss a trip to Barracuda Lake, where you can warm up on a dive in its geothermal waters.
Day 20: Final day in paradise
It's your final day on this idyllic island and we've left it free for you to enjoy at leisure. As you'll begin the long journey home tomorrow, you won't be able to dive today, but that doesn't mean that the waters are out of bounds. Slip below the surface for some snorkelling or enjoy a day of kayaking. If it's some R&R you're after, spend the day of lazing below a coconut tree or treat yourself to some serious pampering with a massage on the beach to the soundtrack of bird song. However you choose to spend your day, end it with a final meal spent gazing at the stars.
Day 21: Homebound
It's time to say a tear-streaked goodbye to this secluded paradise as you prepare for your homeward journey. Take those final snaps, munch on some fresh fruit and enjoy one last swim before you're transferred back to the airport by boat and car.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, with economy flights, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels.
From
£6,355pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
£5,526pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to add business or first class flights, stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
£7,944pp
Emily C and Rachel are our experts for this itinerary and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.
![Rachel Gaw](https://originaldiving.d3r.site/images/face_traveller/560512-screenshot-20230831-093509-instagram.jpg)
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