Trip Report Bikini Atoll (June 2023)

[lermontov]

if our situation is any indication, then the 1st class theory does not work. 4 of the 5 divers whose bags were left in HNL were 1st class and their bags were labelled with priority tags.

lol United Airline - the great equaliser

 

[mr_v]

Gents, what are the rules for dive buddies there? Do you usually travel w someone you know? Is this an "instabuddy" trip where you assume that the itinerary and the dive profile will yield quality buddies?

 

[nadwidny]

Gents, what are the rules for dive buddies there? Do you usually travel w someone you know? Is this an "instabuddy" trip where you assume that the itinerary and the dive profile will yield quality buddies?

The trip I was on, the only diver who was by himself was buddied up with a DM. There were 2 or 3 DMs on every dive. Everyone else paired off within their group.

 

[nadwidny]

double post

 

[kensuf]

Gents, what are the rules for dive buddies there? Do you usually travel w someone you know? Is this an "instabuddy" trip where you assume that the itinerary and the dive profile will yield quality buddies?

We filled the boat with people we knew and had paired up with people on similar pages. The only one we didn't know was the Op that stated this thread, but now that we know him I'm sure we'd be willing to take him anywhere he wanted to go.

 

[beldridg]

We filled the boat with people we knew and had paired up with people on similar pages. The only one we didn't know was the Op that stated this thread, but now that we know him I'm sure we'd be willing to take him anywhere he wanted to go.

Thanks, Ken! I stopped seeing new responses on this thread for some reason.

Regards,

- brett

 

[beldridg]

Gents, what are the rules for dive buddies there? Do you usually travel w someone you know? Is this an "instabuddy" trip where you assume that the itinerary and the dive profile will yield quality buddies?

I don't think there is a hard-and-fast policy but from what I have seen, they try to get people to pair up or go with a DM -- especially if there is any overhead penetration planned for the dive.

I had some pretty unique dive plans and was trying to get photos of the wreck and people and build photogrammetry models so I was often without a direct buddy but was often in the vicinity of other divers and they always knew where I was going to be (and where I wasn't going to be).

The planning is generally done pre-dive and is dynamic depending upon the number of people diving, the plans of those divers, the wreck, etc.

Overall, I would describe the "rules" as flexible and dynamic depending upon the situation.

I would personally feel comfortable going on another trip as a solo traveler (I often do this), but if you have a buddy that wants to go, I would recommend it.

Regards,

- brett

 

[beldridg]

For those who don't subscribe to the blog, I've posted the first four detailed reports with a ton of history of the wrecks, descriptions of the site, and photos (Apogon, Anderson, Carlisle, and Arkansas). They are referenced below:

USS Apogon (Bikini Atoll — 165 fsw)

Intro The Apogon (SS-308) seemed like a natural first post on the wrecks of Bikini Atoll after my initial overall Bikini Atoll Trip Report. I had recently dove and documented and built a photogramm…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

USS Anderson (Bikini Atoll – 170 fsw)

Intro The USS Anderson (DD-411) was a Sims-class destroyer. Destroyers come in different “flavors” but the design goals are generally to be fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warships d…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

USS Carlisle (Bikini Atoll — 170 fsw)

Intro The USS Carlisle (APA-69) was a Gilliam-class attack transport vessel that served in the Pacific in World War II. She was launched on 30 July 1944 and was built in my “home town” …

wreckedinmyrevo.com

USS Arkansas (Bikini Atoll — 170 fsw)

Intro The USS Arkansas (BB-33) is a Wyoming-class dreadnought battleship of epic proportions and history. She served in both World War I and World War II. It is cool to think of diving a battleship…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

I hope these are helpful. I've got a few more to go including an epic post on all the airplanes around the USS Saratoga.

- brett

 

[beldridg]

I just published the USS Lamson post. It had a ton of photos and some cool historical information about destroyers along with annotated blueprints and layout of a sister ship showing the location of all the different weapons. I hope it is benfecial for anybody else going to dive the wreck. There is a ton to see. I love diving destroyers.

USS Lamson (Bikini Atoll — 170 fsw)

Intro In terms of shipwrecks, Destroyers are probably my favorite types of ships to dive. I think of them as the “utility players” in a Navy. There are many different types and sizes of…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

- brett

 

[ACHiPo]

I just published the USS Lamson post. It had a ton of photos and some cool historical information about destroyers along with annotated blueprints and layout of a sister ship showing the location of all the different weapons. I hope it is benfecial for anybody else going to dive the wreck. There is a ton to see. I love diving destroyers.

USS Lamson (Bikini Atoll — 170 fsw)

Intro In terms of shipwrecks, Destroyers are probably my favorite types of ships to dive. I think of them as the “utility players” in a Navy. There are many different types and sizes of…

wreckedinmyrevo.com

- brett

Subscribed to your blog. Looks like great info and photographs!