Dive Review of Truk Odyssey in
Micronesia/Truk

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Truk Odyssey, Jul, 2008, by Todd Allen, CO, USA ( 1 report). Report 4247.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Our twelve divers were from Tortuga Bay out of Greeley, CO. We arrived in Chuuk at 9:00 PM from Denver via connections through LA, Honolulu, and Guam. The flights and layovers were long but uneventful. We were met by the crew from the Odyssey as we cleared customs at the airport. We were taken by bus to the Blue Lagoon Resort where the Odyssey was moored. We were taken on a skiff out to the boat for a welcome reception. We were able to assemble our gear that night to be ready to start diving the next morning. Up to five dives per day were possible with only three dives on the last day. A normal day was two dives before lunch, two in the afternoon, and a possible night dive. We dove twelve different wrecks plus the Betty Bomber. Most wrecks were so large that we usually did two or more dives per wreck before moving on to the next site. We also did a shark feeding dive on the reef outside of the atoll in crystal clear water. The surface of Truk Lagoon was smooth as a mirror for most of the week. We had mild chop on only one dive. The depths ranged between 70 and 130 ft normally and up to190 ft for the San Francisco Maru. The dives offered a great variety of fish, lots of colorful corals, inumerable WWII artifacts displayed on the deck, and possibility of limited wreck penetration. Dive service was excellent. We were given a very detailed dive briefing for each wreck. Briefings included the depths of various portions of the wreck as well as the highlights. Dive slates for the individual wrecks were available and proved invaluable while navigating the wreck. Once a dive briefing was completed, the pool was open. Personal dive lockers were located under the seats on the tank benches. All divers used a 30% Nitrox. For the extended depth of the San Francisco a 24% Nitrox mix was used. All you have to do is gear up, walk done a few steps to the dive deck. The dive guides put your fins on, check your air is on, and then hand your camera once you’re in the water. All dives were off the back of the liveaboard (i.e., no diving from skiffs like on the SS Thorfinn). Descents were made down either a mooring line at the bow of the Odyssey or down a jug line that was usually near the dive deck. Dive guides were available for assisting in wreck penetration. Some dives exceeded NDL limits and required short deco stops. A hang bar at 10 ft. as well as two dive ladders assisted exits. PADI instruction and certification for Nitrox diving or wreck diving specialities were available. Back onboard, towels on the dive deck were ready hot out of the dryer. There were two separate rinse tanks for cameras and two rinse tanks for all other equipment. Tanks were immediately refilled at our seats and were ready for the next dive. On the last dive day, a dive to the legendary San Francisco Maru was offered to those interested. The deck was at 165 ft and the holds at 190 ft. Those who chose to dive the San Francisco had to skip the previous night dive and the next dive following the San Francisco. The sight of the battle tanks on the deck at 165 ft was worth the sacrifice of a couple of dives. The non-diving services were excellent. A continental breakfast of cereal and fruit salad was followed by a made to order hot breakfast. A variety of selections were available for lunch and dinner. Steaks grilled to order were the meal highlight of the week. Snacks were provided mid morning and mid afternoon every day. There was free access to non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, but an alcoholic drink meant your dive day was over. On the last day, we were dropped off at the Blue Lagoon Resort at mid morning. Day rooms were available for the wait for the flight home at 2:00 AM. A land tour was available for $15, but only went to the former command center, now the local high school, and an artillery gun in a cave overlooking the island. At the cave, we also had to pay the owner $5 each. It was interesting to see the island and all the locals walking home from church in their Sunday finest. Overall, the Odyssey provided a once in a lifetime dive trip. The service was perfect. The opportunity to dive these WWII wrecks with the variety of artifacts was a thrill for both diving and military history buffs. The Odyssey is the best liveaboard in Truk and offers many more diving opportunities than land-based operations.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Belize, Bonaire, California, Hawaii, South Carolina, Utila
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	84-86°F / 29-30°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	30-75 Ft/ 9-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	No restrictions were enforced.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Odyssey offered a great setup for underwater photographers. There were two separate rinse tanks for cameras only. A large dry table for cameras on the dive deck included an air hose for drying. The lounge had a large screen TV for viewing photos and videos as well as a set of power strips for recharging batteries.

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Dive Review of Truk Odyssey in Micronesia/Truk

Truk Odyssey, Jul, 2008,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Truk Odyssey in
Micronesia/Truk