Exploring Micronesia’s ghost fleet

The tropical paradise of Truk Lagoon in the Federates States of Micronesia is considered one of the top wreck diving destinations in the world, along with Scapa Flow in Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Over the course of two bloody and smoke-filled days in 1944, more than 60 Japanese warships met their end during a battle here. The Japanese still pay their respects at the watery World War II gravesites each year, but for scuba divers, the site offers a chance to explore a piece of living history. The enormous wrecks that are scattered across 124sqkm of ocean – loaded with torpedoes, airplanes, tanks, bones and more – have become underwater museums, slowly claimed by the salty march of time. (Chris Jackson/SwellImages.com)