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Dive Review of Odyssey in
Micronesia/Truk (Chuuk)

Odyssey, May, 2004,

by Martha & Jeff Hubbard, NY, USA (Top Contributor Top Contributor 33 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 1285.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was our 2d Odyssey trip in nine months. The first trip was too short, so this one was two weeks. Odyssey is home to Captains Lenny and Cara, and ship’s cat Shasta. One feels more like a guest in their home than a paying customer. The staterooms are spacious, with private head and individual A/C controls. The dive deck is efficient and roomy.
Dive briefings are excellent and detailed. If you don’t remember it all, the dive masters will lead you, if you like, or you can use the excellent plastic slates which Odyssey has produced.
Most of the wrecks, all sunk in February 1944, are in excellent condition and the dives are magnificent. We have now made several dives on a number of the wrecks, and find that familiarity leads to discovering more and more! Nitrox 30% (MOD 143 ft) for those certified – get certified on this trip if you aren’t – and 112 cu ft steel tanks (if you want) make long dives accessible to everyone. We averaged 52 min. Our only deco dive (166 ft) was San Francisco Maru, on Nitrox 24%. Well worth the deco time hanging on the line. If you don’t fancy that, a simultaneous no-deco dive on a shallower wreck is available.
There is nothing like descending to the deck at 70 ft, along the companionway, through the pilot house, into the engineroom, down three stories past the machine shops and crew quarters, and out the torpedo hole!
Lennie and Cara are most attentive to divers’ wishes. There are five dives a day, usually two in morning and afternoon, night dive after dinner. (We prefer the night dive before dinner, but it does keep the kitchen staff up.) We had a dive computer threaten to quit, and Lenny produced a Suunto for back-up. Several minor gear repairs were handled with blinding speed.
The Chuuk airport is a real Hell-hole. The Guam flight leaves at 2:25 AM, which is actually good news because the airport building during daytime could cook pizza. At 2 AM, it’s about 95 degrees inside, 90 outside. Four big air conditioners decorate the wall, but are not switched on. Take bottled water, but have your shots up to date if you visit the rest rooms. Luggage inspection is manual (no x-ray), thorough, and surprisingly fast and gentle. The airport notwithstanding, Continental and Con Micronesia have good on-time records and the airport staff are pleasant.
If you like wreck diving, an Odyssey charter is a must. If you’re an experienced diver without much wreck exposure, this is the place to start.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Palau, Fiji, PNG, Australia, VI, Bonaire, Caymans, Fernando de Noronha, Belize, Roatan . . .
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather cloudy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 82-85°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 30-60 Ft/ 9-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Your computer
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments E6 on board. Skilled crew to help if you want it. Big photo table with compressed air. Dedicated camera/computer rinse tanks.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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