Kimiuo Aisek witnessed the American attack on the Japanese fleet at Truk Lagoon in 1944. He was only 17 years old, but was old enough to know that life would change forever. Kimiuo was a walking history of the battle and had a photographic memory of the Lagoon at the time of the attack. By the mid-1970's he had been diving in the lagoon for years, located many of the wrecks and had brought diving to Truk. His fame as a Divemaster was common knowledge.

Klaus Lindemann's passion for diving, history and exploration sent him to the South Pacific in search of buried history. When he and Kimiuo met, life began anew for Truk Lagoon. Together they searched the uncharted waters and discovered 20 wrecks. Klaus recorded the history of the battle in the unsurpassed historical text, Hailstorm Over Truk Lagoon, and follow up with books about the sunken Japanese ships of Palau in Desecrate 1.

Both Kimiuo Aisek and Klaus Lindemann fought to protect the wrecks and reefs of Truk Lagoon, not only for the generation who died in this watery grave, but for generations to come. These two Guardians of Truk Lagoon passed away in 2001. Kimiuo died of a heart attack in January and Klaus died from brain cancer in October. 

Those of us who dove with Kimiuo knew his joy and enthusiasm for life. Those who knew Klaus reveled in his historical intensity. All of us know we have lost two great people.

Klaus Lindemann, concerned environmentalist, who kicked off the campaign of "Minimum Impact Diving," and whose name is synonymous with locating and protecting the wrecks of Truk Lagoon, died of brain cancer October 17 in Michigan.

A pioneering wreck diver, Klaus was instrumental in finding, identifying, describing, and thus opening for our diving pleasure, many wrecks of both Truk and Palau.   When talking to pioneering Dive Master Kimiuo Aisek one day, he realized that Kimiuo was like a library, a treasure house of information. They agreed to record the story telling sessions and, on Klaus' suggestion, to go wreck hunting.  There were almost 20 more ships whose locations were not yet known. They were all found, with the notable exception of the two destroyers.

Since 1978, Klaus was a frequent visitor to Truk.  He spent four years writing Hailstorm over Truk Lagoon which for years has been referred to as "the Truk Wreck Diver's Bible," due to its scope and definitive detail. It's excellence was recognized by being named an official sourcebook for U.S. Navy history. Klaus developed, designed and manufactured a series of products with the motto, "For a diver from a diver," developed a highly popular "Hailstorm The Dive Guide, Hailstorm: The Underwater Slates, and a video, "Truk Hailstorm." All are companion products to his book, Hailstorm over Truk Lagoon.

Klaus single handedly started an environmental campaign to preserve the wrecks and marine environment in Truk: Minimum Impact Diving. He coined the mission statement: "Dive also so considerate to your environment that the following diver does not notice you have been there before." The MID campaign symbol was his pet sea urchin, which appears to say, "Look, don't touch!"

He laughingly quoted Lindemann's Third Law: "Enjoyment of a wreck dive increases directly proportional to the time spent and thoroughness of preparing the dive." Klaus created his products for a fuller appreciation and enjoyment by the diving tourist.

Klaus will be missed but his impact on the many divers that visit Truk will not be forgotten. 

Commemorative Plaques 

Okada Akio, was a "best friend" of Kimiuo Aisek, enjoying  a relationship that spanned more than 20 years. He visited Truk Lagoon nearly every year & dived with Kimiuo until the patriarch was no longer able to join him on the dives. Once, during a visit to Japan, Kimiuo fell ill & required hospitalization. Akio & his wife Fumiko, tended to all of Kimiuo's needs during his five day hospital stay.

This January, when Kimiuo passes away Fumiko traveled to Truk in honor of him & to pay respects with the Aisek family. Business constraints prevented Okada from traveling at that time. At his first opportunity he made his own pilgrimage. He "was cry and cry" over Kimiuo's passing.

He and his wife returned yet again this year in August. They brought with them several stainless steel plaques to commemorate their dear friend. Two of these were set into concrete. It was their goal to install these monuments on Kimiuo's "favorite wrecks."

On August 28, Gradvin, Akio & Fumiko, accompanied by dive guide Kelep Souken, & resort manager Mason Fritz, placed the first monument on the Fujikawa Maru. The following day, the same team, with the added support of dive guide Nick Misauo, placed the second monument on the Aikoku Maru.

Today divers can visit these sites & view the photo etched imaged of Kimiuo, with the inscription:

In Memory of Our Beloved Father
Kimiuo Aisek
Born September 13, 1927
Died January 4, 2001
World War II Survivor, and personally eyewitnessed
"Hailstorm Operation"
A Great Fisherman and a Dive Master
The Founder of the Chuuk Underwater Diving Industry
Greatest Diver in the Pacific
A Great Man of the Sea with a Big Heart.