Don Sutherland's Underwater Photography

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             Wrecks in Truk Lagoon 

The deck of the San Francisco Maru, at 165 feet, in Truk Lagoon was the deepest dive I had ever made. Eighteen minutes at depth meant about an hour and a half on the deco bars. Unlike the other wrecks, the flora and fauna of the Pacific was absent. This tank was chained to the deck and covered with sponges. The San Francisco Maru settled upright after sinking more than 180 feet.

Film Velvia, fstop 5.6, Lens 20mm, Image Number:565-22         

The bow gun on the San Francisco Maru was clearly delineated. The deeper the wreck, the less coral and sponge growth. 

Film Velvia, f-5.6, Lens 20mm, Image Number: 565-25.

I spent a lot of time on the bridge of the Nippo Maru in Truk Lagoon. Lighting the wheel and the telegraph is tough. Next time I go back I am going to have a helper to light the telegraph with a slave strobe.

Film Velvia, f-stop 11, Lens 20mm, Image Number 564-11

The air compressor is three levels down in the engine room of the Fujikawa Maru and located behind a mesh wall that requires taking the picture by  locating the housing and strobes at arms length to the left.. I call this image  "R2D2".

Film Velvia, f-stop 11, Lens 20mm, Image Number 573-31                                                    

The king Posts on the Fujikawa Maru in Truk Lagoon rise to within 40 feet of the surface. Native fishermen have been using explosives to kill fish and have cleaned all of the hard and soft coral from the top down to bare metal. When all the natives have to gain income are these wrecks why they would destroy them is very hard to understand.