MICRONESIA

– 116 – www.paradises.com some of the fiercest fighting between the Americans and the Japanese. As a result there are an estimated 18 sunken Japanese ships and many others as yet undiscovered. The majority of the wreck diving here is in Tanapag Harbour in depths of 12–18 metres with visibility up to 18 metres. The harbour has a ship believed to be the Shoan Maru, a B-29 Bomber, a Japanese seaplane, sub chaser, landing craft and a Zero fighter. An interesting snorkelling site is provided by two American tanks in two-and-a-half metres of water off Saipan World Resort. The most adventurous site is the Grotto which starts at the base of 200 stairs. After submerging 18 metres down the cavern, you then swim through the tunnel to the outside wall of the island where visibility averages 30 metres. Palau is known as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world—not surprising when you can stand atop a reef edge in knee-deep water and see it drop away to 320 metres vertically! It is believed that there are more than 50 W WII shipwrecks sunk in the lagoon. For a truly unique experience, how about diving in a land locked lagoon with 100,000 non-stinging jellyfish! Dive sites offer stalactite-filled caves, giant undersea tunnels and gorgonia fans that stand up to three metres tall. Chuuk is renowned as having the best shipwreck diving in the world because of what is today known as the Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon. It consists of 50–60 ships and Japanese planes that were sent to the bottom after two days and a night of continuous strafing and bombing. The water temperature has served as a great incubator and the ships are now excellent artificial reefs, home to a variety of spectacular marine life. Underwater photography is a must here with the prolific coral growths that line the wrecks. The diving is year-round with visibility on the wrecks varying from 15–30 metres, and average depths between 12–40 metres. Pohnpei is a maze of coral passes or channels leading from the outside sea into the inner lagoon offering great diving and superb coral formations, including deep gorgonia fans that can grow up to six metres in height. The shallow water is also the place to see barracuda, mantas and several varieties of curious reef sharks. Yap is known as the island of manta rays because you can see mantas here consistently. A new find is the manta ray

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