The late master diver Kimiuo Aisek, founder of the Blue Lagoon Dive Shop in Chuuk, was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Jan. 26 on Grand Cayman Island.

Aisek helped make Truk Lagoon in Chuuk State one of the most popular wreck dives in the world. He died in 2001 of a heart attack.

Accepting the award on his behalf in Grand Cayman were two generations of Aiseks: Kimiuo's son, Gradvin, and grandson, Iadvin.

In 1998, Kimiuo Aisek had purchased the Truk Continental Hotel from Continental Airlines, and converted it to the Truk Blue Lagoon Resort.

On Nov. 13, 2008, Blue Lagoon Dive Shop celebrated its 35th anniversary. It is run entirely by the Aisek family of Kuchua village, Tonoas Island (formerly Dublon).

Born on Sept. 13, 1927, Kimiuo Aisek was reared during the Japanese era in Truk. Working for the Japanese Navy as a stevedore, he became familiar with the cargo ships used by the Imperial Navy's Fourth Fleet based in Truk.

Operation Hailstone
At age 17, he witnessed Operation Hailstone, the American air attack on Truk on Feb. 17 and 18, 1944. He watched the Japanese ships sink during the attack, including the Aikoku Maru, which disappeared in a violent explosion in just one minute.

In 1949 Kimiuo Aisek was hired by the Department of Public Works in the U.S. administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. He earned 9 cents an hour. He later became an officer in the Merchant Marine.

Fishing was always his first love, and he did it in Hawaii for seven years as well as many years in Truk.


thank you, uncle Kim, for the great and most making money contribution you have put in place and left us with especially the chuuk tourism industry. Now it will be up to us to market your contribution to the world of tourism...

To you and those who came before us and contributed greatly to our island, "Thank you and Rest in peace".