March 1 Leaving Truk

One of the rules of diving is that one does not fly within 24 hours of the last dive. So, after four days of diving we took a lay day and decided to explore the island before leaving on our flight to Palau the following day. Weno is the most populated island in Chuuk Lagoon and is the capital of Chuuk. We got the hotel van to take us to the only other destination on the island, the Truk Stop Resort, a small hotel and restaurant.

While the resort is nearby to Blue Lagoon Resort, it takes a little while to get there because the roads have been in complete disrepair for many years. The pothole puddles may appear to be just a few inches deep, yet can be a foot or more in depth. Some potholes have jagged pieces of re-bar making walking on the road impossible. Because of the recent rains, the potholes became huge puddles and most of the roadside homes were flooded, a normal occurrence according to our driver.

Along the route we got a close look at the poverty. Even the shops along the road are just corrugated shacks. The pictures speak for themselves.

While Chuuk’s government is by far the largest employer the majority of the Chuukese occupy themselves with subsistence fishing and agriculture. Because of the Chuuk relationship with the US, which provides considerable outside funding, the Chuukese can serve in the US military and this is a lucrative option for a small percentage of the Chuuk people.

After WWII, Chuuk joined with other Pacific Islands to form the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (TTPI). The US was the trustee and was tasked with overseeing development of the islands. In 1990 the Federated States of Micronesia joined the United Nations. Since then there has been a steady economic decline in Chuuk. The education system, water, sewers, radio stations, power plant and particularly the roads have fallen into disrepair. US reduced aid has been a contributing factor, but we read that the most significant reason is the lack of quality political leadership. The economy is stagnant.

The emphasis on family creates complicated social structures which differ island to island. Despite the poverty, the Chuuk people we met couldn’t be friendlier. The islands of Chuuk Lagoon are beautiful and after our diving experience, it was apparent why the area is considered one of the ten best dive sites in the world.

The following afternoon, March 1, we left Chuuk and the Federated States of Micronesia for the Republic of Palau for a new adventure and a different kind of diving.

The photos below include, The Truk Stop Resort (2), shots of the roadway flooding, homes and shops and the last are a couple of pictures taken in the Chuuk airport waiting for our flight to Palau.









































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