About North Valley Diver Publications & Author Dan E. Bailey
A Passion for Preserving Underwater History
At North Valley Diver Publications, our mission is clear: to make the world’s most significant underwater wartime site — Truk Lagoon (now Chuuk) — accessible through accurate, in-depth documentation and historical storytelling. Founded and led by author and researcher Dan E. Bailey, our work represents decades of firsthand investigation, photography, and collaboration with divers, historians, and military archives.
We don’t just publish books — we preserve a part of world history that lies quietly beneath the Pacific Ocean, waiting to be explored and understood.
Auxiliary Cruiser (XCL) Aikoku Maru at anchor, 7/29/1942
Meet Dan E. Bailey — Author, Historian, Diver
Dan E. Bailey is recognized worldwide as a leading authority on the wrecks of Truk Lagoon. His work combines scholarly rigor with immersive storytelling, built on years of field research in Micronesia, extensive archival review, and personal dives on dozens of wrecks.
His acclaimed book,
World War II Wrecks of the Truk Lagoon, is the result of over 30 years of original research. More than just a reference guide, it is an immersive historical account—documenting not only the physical remnants of war, but also the context behind each ship, aircraft, and campaign that shaped the outcome of World War II in the Pacific.
Our Role in Diving, Publishing & Historical Research
As a publishing company based in Redding, California, we are committed to delivering specialized, high-quality materials for:
- Divers planning expeditions to Chuuk Lagoon
- Historians and educators teaching World War II in the Pacific
- Collectors and researchers seeking rare archival content
All orders placed through our website are handled directly by North Valley Diver Publications — ensuring:
- Authenticity:
Extensive citation of reference materials.
- Expertise: Detailed information learned from thousands of wreck dives and numerous expeditions to Truk/Chuuk.
- Support:
Customer service 7 days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM
- Careful shipping: Secure packaging for books and maps, including international delivery options
We are proud to serve a global community, with readers across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Why Truk Lagoon?
During WWII, Truk became Japan’s most important advanced naval base. Besides being headquarters for the Fourth Fleet, Combined Fleet, and the 52nd Division of the Army, almost all major Japanese naval operations—including the attack on Pearl Harbor—were coordinated through Truk. It was often referred to by U.S. military officials as “Japan’s Pearl Harbor.” Truk was considered a major potential roadblock to the advance of the American Pacific Fleet toward the Japanese Empire.
U.S. Navy carrier striking forces carried out Operation Hailstone and further attacks on April 29–30, 1944, followed by numerous land-based Army Air Force bomber missions.
Today, the war legacy lives on in the islands, which still contain remnants of Japanese installations and weaponry, as well as more than 60 sunken ships and dozens of aircraft resting on the lagoon floor.
Through Bailey’s work, divers and historians gain access to:
- Accurate historical timelines
- Ship and aircraft schematics
- Color photography of wreck conditions
- Tactical insights from both Japanese and American perspectives
Visit Us or Connect
Though we ship globally, North Valley Diver Publications is proudly based in Redding, California. We are part of a vibrant local community of historians, veterans, divers, and educators who continue to honor and investigate the legacies of WWII.