Truk Lagoon, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

5Rhone_Man 5:00 PM Jan 31, 2011

Truk Odyssey - best way to scuba dive Truk Lagoon
Let's get something out the way first - the diving in Truk Lagoon is spectacular. You know that. I know that. So I won't waste time here gushing about the quality of the diving. It was the quality of the Truk Odyssey that was a real shock to me. There are really four ways to diveTruk Lagoon - stay in one of the two hotels (Truk Stop and Blue Lagoon) and dive from shore, or stay on one of the two liveaboards (ss Thorfinn and Truk Odyssey). Liveaboards usually have a well-deserved reputation of being cramped places, with dodgy food, that give you a positive incentive to spend as much time underwater as possible. But the Odyssey is more like living off a mini cruise ship. The cabins are spacious. 16 guests is a very modest number for the total space available. The food is very good. Plentiful fresh water and hot showers. The crew is extremely relaxed about letting you dive your own way (Deco? No probs. Solo? No probs. First timer who wants a guide holding your hand? No probs. Whatever you want.) What is even more amazing is that they accomplish this in Chuuk, which (if you spend any time on land) you quickly realise is a pretty backward place. The Odyssey keeps a reasonable set schedule, rotating around the key wrecks of the lagoon (a typical week takes you across 13 different wrecks), but if you have a burning desire to visit somewhere off the beaten track, they will launch the skiff and take you. I fully appreciate that gushing reviews always look a bit suspicious, but I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable week's diving of my entire life. And I have been around the proverbial block a few times. What's the catch? Well there are two. Firstly, it isn't cheap; but even given the price, I do think it represents good value for money (try costing out 4 or 5 nitrox dives a day from a land based operation in Chuuk...). Secondly, wherever you live in the world, Chuuk is a heckuva trip to get there. Even Australia, which is comparitively close, is more than a 24 hour journey. Most people travel for nearer to 36 hours. But Truk really is somewhere that every scuba diver should go to at least once. And if you are going to do it, you really should do it on the Odyssey. There are three other main options (the Thorfinn, Blue Lagoon Resort, and Truk Stop). Go to Truk Stop if you need trimix for technical dives, but otherwise, you'd be mad not to spend the diving trip of a lifetime aboard the Odyssey.

5samkimmins 5:00 PM Mar 29, 2015

Update following Typhoon Maysak
First of all - Truk is incredible. 3 days in and each of my dives has been 'the best ever' - the wrecks are out of this world! The intention of this review is to update, and dispel some myths about the status of the dive operations after Typhoon Maysak ploughed through on 29th March 2015 - SS Thorfinn rode out the storm and is fully operational. Built for open oceans, there was no damage or injuries and dives were operating the following day - no impact on ongoing operations. (some sites say Thorfinn is missing - it's not - I'm a guest on board and we're currently sat highly visibly in the middle of the lagoon) - Odyssey - currently sat up on the reef and reporting extensive damage. Not currently operating, no injuries reported. Check with the operators regarding future bookings - Siren - currently sat up on the reef and reporting extensive damage. One crew injury reported, not verified. Check with the operator regarding future bookings - Blue Lagoon: Some damage but still operating dives Diving is currently very silty and there is some slight damage to the shallower wrecks (one of the Fujikawa masts is now leaning at 45 degrees) but still very much a world-class dive site!!