A DIVER in Micronesia has captured haunting pictures of what is believed to be the LARGEST underwater graveyard in the world.
Gary Bernnand from Perth, Australia photographed some of the two-hundred-thousand tonnes of shipping that as left to rot after World War 2.
The superb shots show the brutal realities of overseas war from Operation Hailstone in February 1944.
The attack, which took place between 17-18 February, was a massive US Navy air and surface attack against the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Chuuk Lagoon, formally known as Truk Lagoon, was attacked by the US as the area was believed to be a stronghold of the Japanese Navy.
More than 4,500 Japanese soldiers died during the operation while only 40 Americans lost their lives.
Images show the remains of Japanese soldiers, whose skulls have turned brown from the three-quarters of a century of decay.
Other pictures show the seabed caked with ammunition shells and a propeller plane missing two blades after falling to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Approximately 60 wrecks are believed to be there, 12 small light cruisers, destroyers, auxiliaries and 32 merchant ships.
It is estimated around 275 Japanese aircraft were shot down around the island.
Plaques were placed underwater in February 1994 on the 50th anniversary in dedication to the preservation and the respect for the remaining ships as a heritage for the people.
Chuuk Lagoon, where the pictures were captured, is a large archipelago with mountainous islands surrounded by small islands on a barrier reef.
The site – which was made famous by dive legend Jacques Cousteau and visited by director James Cameron who made the iconic deep sea movie Abyss – was snapped by scuba diving instructor and photographer, Gary Brennand.
