太平洋跳島第二站：楚克群島
Second stop on my Pacific island hopping: Chuuk in Micronesia
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楚克群島在密克羅尼西亞聯邦，距離關島只有兩小時不到的航程。這個超級小島只有不到一百平方公里，是沈船潛水世界聞名的聖地！在這裡有超過六十艘沈船和飛機潛水艇，如照片所示。為什麼會有這麼多沈船在此呢？
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在第一次世界大戰後，這個島被國際聯盟授權給了日本，所以變成了日軍的太平洋海軍基地。日軍在此下錨了無數軍艦，進駐了五萬日軍，所以楚克群島當年有「太平洋的直布羅陀」，或著「日本的珍珠港」之稱。
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1944年2月17號清晨，美軍行使連續三天的「冰雹行動」，派遣無數飛機空襲楚克群島，炸沉了數十艘軍艦與商船，還有幾百艘飛機。損失之慘重，使後人稱楚克群島為「世界上最大的船隻墓地」。
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事隔多年後的七零年代，一名當年目睹空襲事件的楚克有錢人，Aisek，提出了將楚克沈船遺跡列為保護紀念區，並設立了一家叫做藍瀉湖觀光旅社（Blue Lagoon Resort）的潛水飯店，讓世界各地潛水人士來此沈船潛水，一睹當年日軍的記憶。他也被列為國際水肺潛水名人堂的一員。
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當年的沈船，現在都已經長滿珊瑚與海葵，也有無數魚群進住，美的不像真的。但杯盤彈藥還有人類殘骸，卻仍靜靜的沈在這太平洋的海底。
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戰爭真的好可怕。但不管人類如何爭戰，到最後，仍會慢慢的被大海媽媽一點一點的，化為大海美麗的一部分。
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我這次就是來住這裡，來沈船潛水呦！這島上完全沒有其他事情可做，沒有其他觀光價值與資源，當地治安又非常差，出了潛水飯店都有可能會被當地人殺害。我晚上睡覺還看到鬼！😰😰😰😰 所以不是進階潛水員不要來啊！
#楚克群島 #密克羅尼西亞聯邦 #太平洋跳島 #潛水
Chuuk Island (or Truk) is in Federated States of Micronesia. It is only less than two hours of flight away from Guam. This tiny island is less than 100 square km, and is a world famous wreck diving spot. There are more than 60 ships and countless planes and submarine wreckage here as shown in the photo. Why is there so many of wreckage?
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After WWI, Micronesia was handed over to Japan by the International Federation, sobit became the naval base of Japanese military. There were more than 50,000 military personnels, and countless battle ships. Hence, Chuuk was also called "the Pacific Gibraltar" or "the Japanese Pearl Habour".
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February 17, 1944, American air force executed the three day long of "Operation Hailstone." Many planes came to bomb the Chuuk Habour, and many ships and hundreds of planes were bomber down. The damage was so devastating that Chuuk island is the called "the world's biggest ship graveyard."
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Many years afterwards, in 70s, a rich Chuukese named Aisek proposed to keep Chuuk lagoon as a protected area in memory of the 1944 Operation Hailstone, which he had witnessed himself. He then opened a dive hotel called Blue Lagoon Resort, providing diving services for divers from all over the world to wreck dive and witness the history. He was then listed in the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
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All the wreckage from years ago has been covered by lush colorful coral and anemone. Many fishes have called it home. It is marvelously beautiful. But all the cups and plates, bullets and bombs, and some human remains, are still sunk in here in the Pacific quietly.
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War is really awful. But regardless how horribly humans fight, in the end, the Mother Ocean will still slowly transform it into something beautiful, into part of her.
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So here I am! I am staying in Blue Lagoon Resort doing some wreck diving!! There is nothing else one can do on this island and there is no tourism resources. it is also very dangerous to leave the hotel. The locals attack foreigners! I even saw a few ghosts last night!! 😰😰😰😰😰 So don't come here if you are not a serious advance diver!!
#ChuukIsland #FederatedStatesOfMicronesia #WreckDive #ScubaDiving
