Chuuk diving

[hotsong]

I honestly don't get why people go all the way to truk don't just spend a little more for the master or odyssey. the blue lagoon is bottom 3 of all places i've ever stayed, up there with a hostel that doubled as a homeless shelter in the UK during the pandemic and the airbnb in romania that looked nothing like the pictures where I thought I would be kidnapped and have my kidneys stolen. i've stayed in 10 dollar hostels in southeast asia that were in better shape.

I returned a week ago, staying at Blue Lagoon (BLR) two weeks all up.

The OP specifically asked about land based - in which case there's only two choices, and Blue Lagoon I feel provides the much better setup and location for diving, which is why you go there in the first place, right? Dive shop and dock is right there on site, as close as you get to the dive sites. Dive guides, fantastic.

If you were a single tank recreational diver, then I see the merit in Odyssey - you'll get in more dives over a shorter period of time, it's really easy, luxury type experience and it's all cost inclusive. Truk Master - not a chance, it's a bucket, nothing like the pics. Thorfinn- you couldn't pay me.

Personally, I thought land based was much more flexible than a LOB for what I wanted (I was diving back mount doubles)- with different interests, skill levels, with longer possible run times as others have said. It also meant that we had any given wreck to ourselves (small boat of six, plus guide), rather than how many from a LOB at once? For as long as we wanted. Totally free to follow the guide, do our own thing or a combination of both.

Cost - I'm don't think there's a big difference, who cares when you're going this far and it's costing as much as it does anyway. Odyssey isn't necessarily a lot more expensive because at BLG you need to factor in meals and nitrox which add up quickly (and they charge hire for manifolds and tank bands for twins). But highly doubtful I would have got in as much diving in as I did. Both LOB you'll be need to book a year in advance, so that doesn't answer the OP question for Dec.

Don't agree with your accommodation assessment. Sounds like your experience was probably pre-Covid, during which they renovated. Everything @Tracy said, agree spot on. Rooms were clean and comfortable, good size, good aircon (a couple did have an issue, I think that was an exception rather than the rule) - although no hot water. Wi-fi in room was slow but worked for internet (but not streaming or photo upload type activites). Food - fine.

To answer the OP on the best dive sites? Too many to list. You will not be disappointed, brilliant.

I'd make the same decision again - land based, Blue Lagoon. I'll be back.

 

[Tracy]

I honestly don't get why people go all the way to truk don't just spend a little more for the master or odyssey. the blue lagoon is bottom 3 of all places i've ever stayed, up there with a hostel that doubled as a homeless shelter in the UK during the pandemic and the airbnb in romania that looked nothing like the pictures where I thought I would be kidnapped and have my kidneys stolen. i've stayed in 10 dollar hostels in southeast asia that were in better shape.

Cost wasn't a factor in my trip planning. I prefer land based over liveaboard. I like to have a large private room. If I want to go socialize in the evening, I will do that. I don't want to be shoehorned on a boat with 30 other people. I live on a boat dealing with divers all summer.
I want to spend 2-4 hours on a wreck in the morning and do the same in the afternoon. I don't have any interest in doing 4-5 short dives per day.
The rooms and grounds weren't anything hostel like. They were VERY nice for a third world country and on par with most 2 star hotels in the states.
The lagoon had a total refit when they were shut down for Covid. My guess is you haven't been there since.
I brought 10 people with me. Everybody enjoyed it. I am planning another trip in 27.

 

[LI-er]

Check out my recent trip review of Truk which answers your questions. The TLDR version is, since you've opted to dive from land, then your best choice is Blue Lagoon and dive with their onsite operator. You can chose your wrecks, the big map on the wall of the dive shop isn't much help, I have described the best wrecks in my report.

Trip Report Thread 'Diving Truk Lagoon in December 2023, comparison of Odyssey Liveaboard vs land based accommodations'

Jan 7, 2024

While planning this trip I determined that the best way to dive Truk Lagoon was via Odyssey liveaboard, my wife and I spent 7 days and nights aboard and did 5.5 days of diving with Odyssey.

When we signed up for the trip, Odyssey advised us to book any necessary lodging before and after the liveaboard trip (depending on rather limited available flight schedules) at one of the 3 hotels on Weno which is the main island in the lagoon. It has the airport, a rather primitive town, and is where Odyssey is based. We were not provided more in the way of details regarding the 3 hotels other than...

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[broncobowsher]

Land based, Blue Lagoon is your only option. The Truk Stop doesn't have any dive services anymore from the last I heard.

There was a fairly major renovation that was underway as Covid started. Was there in 2019 and the first block of rooms was starting the renovations. 2023 they had done them all and were waking back up from Covid, not really up to speed yet.

One of my favorite little things is at 6AM, just before they start the generators and switch to there own power. Go out the front door of the room and you can hear the school bell ringing off in the distance. Almost a Little House on the Prairie moment. Clearly a hand rung metal bell. Such a nice way to start the day. You won't get that on a boat, only at Blue Lagoon.

 

[lostsheep]

I honestly don't get why people go all the way to truk don't just spend a little more for the master or odyssey.

Because I am there to dive.

I’d beach camp so long as there’s a fill station and a boat.

 

[broncobowsher]

Make a dive from Blue Lagoon. Want to see more, go back again. Sure. You could do every dive of your trip on the same wreck if you want.

Want to do another from one of the boats, sorry. The boat has moved to the next wreck. And everyone on the boat is diving that wreck at the same time.

 

[LI-er]

You could do every dive of your trip on the same wreck if you want.

Why in the world would someone want to dive the same wreck over and over again when there are so many great ones in Truk, and especially given the time, effort and expense to get there?

 

[broncobowsher]

Why in the world would someone want to dive the same wreck over and over again when there are so many great ones in Truk, and especially given the time, effort and expense to get there?

You missed the phrase "you could" in front of that.
I was showing the flexibility that you get from the Blue Lagoon operation. You pick where you go. Not stuck with where the boat decides to go.

 

[LI-er]

You missed the phrase "you could" in front of that.
I was showing the flexibility that you get from the Blue Lagoon operation. You pick where you go. Not stuck with where the boat decides to go.

I didn't miss the phrase, I was at no time under the erroneous impression that diving the same wreck over and over is mandatory. In my Truk trip report 1 year ago, I compared Blue Lagoon with Odyssey and made same observation that you did, the diving is much more flexible with Blue Lagoon, you can pick your dives which is one benefit of land based versus liveaboard.

 

[Scared Silly]

Let start with the dive ops to avoid ... Thornfin. That is camping but on a boat.

For land based there is the Blue Lagoon which is on the site of a former WWII Japanese seaplane base. We found our stays there is be nice, good dive staff, reasonable restaurant, basic rooms. Tranquil stay. Though be aware of the cats, when it comes to food they are demanding. we did several dives with them that cannot be done via a live-a-board.

The other option is the Truk Stop when is in Weno proper. I have read good reviews but the location is in Weno which is not the most tranquil.

Regardless of which dive op one uses, one is a captive guest. That is there is not much else on the island. Which is why we liked Blue Lagoon one could at least walkabout the ground after dinner.

I have dived with the Odyssey twice - which uses the dock at Blue Lagoon. An excellent operation. The big advantage is the number of dives for the amount of travel and being able to dive on one's own schedule.