I-169 Submarine - Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
The I-169 Submarine is a distinctive dive in Chuuk, largely because it’s the only sub wreck in the lagoon. The story here is pretty grim – she was accidentally flooded, and then sunk by Japanese depth charges trying to free trapped sailors, which split her forward section wide open. You’ll find the conning tower lying detached, a little to the side, while the aft section is comparatively whole. It’s an interesting wreck to explore from the outside, but we don’t recommend penetration due to how easily the silt gets stirred up inside. A good site for those interested in the sheer variety of wrecks Chuuk offers.
- Location
- Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon, Micronesia, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 7.366700, 151.866700
Best Time to Dive in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
The warmest water temperatures in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon occur in January, averaging 28.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.9°C (air: 27.8°C)
- February: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
- March: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- April: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- May: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
- June: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- July: 28.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- August: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
- September: 28.9°C (air: 27.7°C)
- October: 28.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
- November: 28.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
- December: 28.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
- AIKOKU MARU - 55m (wreck)
- AMAGISAN MARU - 45m (wreck)
- Betty Bomber (wreck)
- Chuuk Diving: The Wrecks of Truk Lagoon (wreck)
- Chuuk Lagoon Barrier Reefs Awash (reef)
- DAI NI HINO MARU - 36m (wreck)
- Emily Flying Boat - 12-15m (wreck)
- Emily Flying Boat (wreck)
- Fujikawa Maru (wreck)
- Fujikawa Maru (wreck)
- Fujikawa Maru - 10-35m (wreck)
- FUJIKAWA MARU - 33m (wreck)
- FUJISAN MARU - 40m (wreck)
- Fumitsuki Maru (wreck)
- FUMITSUKI (POSSIBLY) - 2m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to I-169 Submarine
- Odyssey Adventures - ["PADI"]
- Truk Stop
- Vision Wealth FSM
Marine Life in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
Home to 213 recorded species including 133 reef fish, 36 hard corals, 17 sea cucumbers, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 sharks & rays, 4 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Long-nosed Parrotfish (Hipposcarus longiceps) - Reef Fish
- Blunt-head Parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Saddled Parrotfish (Scarus dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Schlegel's Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) - Reef Fish
- Roundhead Parrotfish (Scarus globiceps) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Blackspotted Sea Cucumber (Pearsonothuria graeffei) - Sea Cucumbers
- Batavian Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Reef Fish
- Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) - Starfish
- Sea chub (Kyphosus cinerascens) - Reef Fish
- Foxface (Siganus vulpinus) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Unicornfish (Naso annulatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for I-169 Submarine
Based on average water temperature of 28.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories