AMAZING Scuba Diving Research, Chuuk Lagoon Micronesia

The Chuuk Lagoon Expedition was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Major Projects Foundation (MPF), with significant support from the Australian Government and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The primary mission was the FSM WWII Shipwreck Pollution Mitigation Project, a multi-year initiative aimed at addressing the critical environmental threats posed by 20 potentially polluting World War II shipwrecks. These wrecks, remnants of Operation Hailstone (1944), hold large volumes of toxic fuel oil and unexploded ordnance, posing a grave risk to the marine ecosystem, local livelihoods, and historical preservation.

Inkfish partnered with MPF in July 2024, providing logistical, medical, and research support, alongside the Divers Alert Network (DAN Europe), which conducted physiological studies on divers operating in these extreme conditions. The research focused on multiday diving acclimatization, monitoring venous gas emboli and heart rate variability, to improve safety protocols. By leveraging the ongoing work of MPF divers, who were already performing crucial technical surveys and oil spill risk assessments, DAN Europe's study seamlessly integrated with the broader environmental conservation and hazard mitigation efforts.

This mission would not have been possible without the Australian Government’s financial and technical backing, which enabled MPF’s survey of 25 high-risk wrecks and strengthened FSM’s long-term capacity to manage marine pollution. The expedition represents a critical step in both preserving Chuuk Lagoon’s environmental and historical integrity and advancing diver safety through cutting-edge medical research.

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0:00 Intro
0:21 Pre Dive Research
5:03 Underwater
6:32 Post Dive Research

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