Vessels
Truk Odyssey
Truk Odyssey (Truk Odyssey)
Truk Odyssey is, without doubt, the most spacious and comfortable way to explore the fabulous wrecks of Truk Lagoon. At over 40 metres in length, this award-winning and very comfortable boat is equipped with full safety gear and large fresh water tanks (so there is plenty of water for showers), and has a range of 1,200 nautical miles. In short she is equipped to offer everything that a diver could wish for in the search for the ultimate in wreck diving! The usual itinerary offers superb wreck diving within sport diving limits (though there are facilities for those who wish to carry out some deeper, decompression diving or wreck penetration), but whole boat charters can be offered as technical diving weeks with decompression diving and wreck penetration to extend the range of wrecks that can be dived. During the course of the week there are also opportunities to participate in some exciting shark diving, as well as diving on the outer reefs. Truk Odyssey is frequently booked by those who want to take whole boat charters, with many groups booking this lovely boat over a year (or even two years!) in advance, but happily there are increasingly opportunities for individuals to travel on the boat.
Truk Odyssey is a fine, spacious liveaboard that carries a maximum of 16 passengers in nine staterooms. All staterooms are fully air-conditioned, fully carpeted and have en-suite bathrooms. All staterooms have port holes or windows. Six staterooms each have the capacity to offer two single beds, or one king-sized bed. Two staterooms have one single bed and one stateroom has a lower double bed and an upper single bed. Between dives guests can relax on the sundeck (either in or out of the shade). The air-conditioned, fully carpeted dining salon is fitted out in tropical wood and there is space for everyone on the boat to dine at one sitting. Full windows on either side of the boat give the dining salon a light and airy atmosphere. There is a comfortable and air-conditioned entertainment lounge where you can watch DVDs, view your slides, listen to music or just relax. There is also a bar so you can choose a beer or glass of wine, quench your thirst and think about the dives you have done and the ones you are going to do!
For after the dive there is a freshwater shower and clean towels awaiting, as well as the chef’s freshly prepared snacks to appease the after-dive hunger pangs! Breakfast includes a hot breakfast plus toast, cereals, fruit and fruit juices. Lunch ranges from salads, soups and warm dishes on the boat. Dinner is usually a hot and hearty meal always with a delicious desert. Most meals are served buffet-style.
Once your gear is set up at your own seat and at your own dive locker, it need not be taken apart until you leave the boat. Tanks are filled, with air or Nitrox, at your seat for convenience. The spacious, slip-resistant dive deck has room for two divers plus two divemasters. Two ladders help you out of the water so that you can step to the convenient freshwater shower to rinse off. Two freshwater camera rinse tanks are just a few steps from the dive deck and the gear rinse tanks are just a couple of steps further. There is a sturdy, carpeted, three-tiered camera work table with battery charging facilities located in the lounge. A full range of diving equipment is available for rental by pre-arrangement. Nitrox fills are included in the cost of your holiday for those who are in possession of a Nitrox certification. Courses offered on the boat include Advanced Open Water, Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Photographer and Nitrox certification.
There are no set routines and each day will vary depending on location and local conditions, but generally the day begins at 0700 with a hot breakfast before the first dive at 0745. Depending on the dive site, you will have up to two dives before lunch. During lunch the boat usually moves to a new location and after lunch two more dives are offered, one usually being a late afternoon dive. Night dives are offered each evening where possible. As most dives in Truk are quite close to each other, it is easy for the boat to move around. Not everyone is required to dive at the same time, so it is not unusual for a couple of divers to be the only ones on a 200-metre long wreck. Photographers in particular, will appreciate this unique feature which will offer them the opportunity to shoot particularly popular wrecks without having others in the picture. For those who charter the whole boat, the itinerary and diving schedule can be tailor-made and no day is really typical.
Truk Odyssey offers a range of technical diving equipment that includes twin tanks, with dual isolation valve manifolds, and also pony bottles, for use with decompression gases or as back-up tanks. Oxygen is available on board for an additional fee. Qualified individuals may take decompression dives and penetrate wrecks, but whole boat charters may arrange special deep technical weeks to include wreck penetration. To participate in the technical diving programme, divers must have proper certification for the dives, a technical BCD set to handle doubles, twin regulator set ups, decompression dive computers and tables, a line cutting device, an underwater slate and DAN insurance.
The following wrecks and reef sites are offered from Truk Odyssey, though not all sites are visited each week and are subject to local conditions and divers’ experience: Fujikawa Maru (0-40 metres), Yamagiri Maru (20-40 metes), Nippo Maru (16-30 metres), Heian Maru (12-20 metres), Sankisan Maru (0-30 Metres), Hoki Maru 15-50 metres), Unkai Maru (10-40 Metres), Rio de Janeiro Maru (12-40 metres), Hanakawa Maru (3-25 metres), Fumitzuki Destroyer (25-40 Metres), Betty Bomber (12-20 metres), Momokawa Maru (25-50 metres), Shinkoku Maru (10-40 metres), San Francisco Maru (30-60 metres), Pizion Reef (5-60 metres), Shark Pass (15-40 metres), Twin Peaks (5-30 metres), Blue Channel (15-30 metres), Blue Wall (2-50 metres) and Shark diving on the outer reef.
Truk Odyssey operates out of the harbour at Truk Blue Lagoon Resort for 7 nights cruises (though longer cruises may be arranged for whole groups), departing every Sunday throughout the year.
$3340. Includes: airport transfers; 7 nights cruise on Truk Odyssey with full board (except dinner on the last night), including non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks; 5 full days diving (up to 5 dives a day, including night dives), plus 3 dives on the last day; Nitrox or air fills; A Chuuk State bed tax, port fee and dive permit fee. Dinner on the last night is not included, but guests will be provided with guidance about good local restaurants. Reduction for non-divers. Single Occupancy Supplement: $1500 (but you can avoid paying the supplement if you are willing to share a cabin). The two single cabins, for which there is no supplement, cannot be pre-booked as the cruise operator utilizes them to solve rooming problems.
Whole Boat Charters: Groups of 7-9 divers are offered one additional free place. Groups of 10 or more divers are offered two additional free places.