Dive Review of
Odyssey in
Micronesia/Truk (Chuuk)

 Palau, Fiji, PNG, Australia, VI, Bonaire, Caymans, Fernando de Noronha,
Belize, Roatan . . .  

Dive Conditions

Your computer  

E6 on board.  Skilled crew to help if you want it.  Big photo table with
compressed air.  Dedicated camera/computer rinse tanks.  

Overall Rating

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.
 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

What others have to say about Undercurrent
And get immediate access to ALL 254 dive reviews of Micronesia
and all other dive destinations immediately!