I am looking for someone who has traveled to and dived the Marshall Islands. I need to set up a research trip next year for that region and I have not been to that location. What , if any, weather concerns? Dive operators? Liveaboards? Supply availability other then Kwaj? Thanks to any for assistance. Dy
Marshall Islands
- Thread starter sirensmyst
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DennisS
Contributor
I would recommend not staying on ebeye.
electric_diver
Contributor
sirensmyst:
I went to Truk (Micronesia) and Bikini (Marshall Islands) in September.
This link may be of assistance
http://www.visitmarshallislands.com/activities/scuba.htm
The big dive destination in the Marshall islands is obviously Bikini atoll. It is very expensive. The diving operation there is very regimented and restrictive. It is very remote and the dives are all decompression dives in the 160 foot to 180 foot range. If your group is AOWs their methods will give you save and fun dives. If however your group are technical divers, you will hate it because they will not let you plan and execute your own dive plans.
Weather is a non factor.
http://www.visitmarshallislands.com/climate.htm
I recommend staying with Robert Reimers in Majuro if you are on land. They treated our group very well. They can set up diving for you.
Kwajalein is a big US military base. There is a dive club there. I think you have to be based there to be allowed to dive.
http://www.kwajaleinscubaclub.com/home.html
electric_diver:
Tell me you're kidding.
So you're either going to be baby-sat through dives you shouldn't be doing in the first place, or as a technical diver they won't allow you to run your own dive?
Can you elaborate here?
PS> BTW I see you're from Ottawa.....do I know (of) you?
electric_diver
Contributor
Scuba_Steve:
No I'm not.
Scuba_Steve:
That is exactly correct from my experience. Actually you will be baby sat through dives which are far easier than ones you have done. The Jodery, King and Oconto are far more challenging dives than anything at Bikini.
Additionally there are some hidden rules which are not explained to you on their website. This stuff came from head dive master of Bikini atoll divers.
Hidden rule 1 is that you must be accompanied at all times in the water by a local dive master to make sure you don't steal anything.
Hidden rule 2 is that the head divemaster requires full cave certification to penetrate the wrecks. An advanced wreck card isn't good enough apparently.
The net effect is that you have to dive in groups and half the time you spend waiting for people to get out of your way. That is extraordinarily annoying on a 900 foot long wreck.
Scuba_Steve:
No. I don't think so.
I dove Bikini and Truk in July and wouldn't hesitate to go back. Yes, I have done more challenging dives, but considering the wrecks you have to view and the relatively limited time you have to view them (6 days, 2 dives a day), there is plenty to see from the outside without penetrating. We dove in a group of 4 and a second group of 5, no one had to wait for anyone else, other than the photographers and video people (like myself) who tend to linger. They do have a rigid schedule, but until they are going to require a minimum cert of extended range, there is really no choice given the remoteness of the location.
If I were fortunate enough to go back, I would try to do it with all technical divers, with all the proper training to do some more challenging dives/penetration. These wrecks are awesome.
If I were fortunate enough to go back, I would try to do it with all technical divers, with all the proper training to do some more challenging dives/penetration. These wrecks are awesome.
electric_diver:
OK, thanks bud.
As yoyu may or may not know there's a local tech instructor setting up trips to Bikini in '07. It was kinda pie-in-the-sky dreaming anyway as the cost is out of my league, but I've always had a hankering to do Bikini. The shows etc I have seen of it have been amazing. Yes I agree all things considered, they did indeed look like a cake walk vs. our comparable depth dives.
Given the above info it's actually an easy decision on the matter now. There's no way I'd put up with that nonsense while spending the coin you'd have to do to get to enjoy it.
Thanks again.
DennisS:
why not?
DennisS
Contributor
It's just nasty. We had a scientist onboard once and warned him. He said that he liked out of the way, third world, crummy places and was going to check it out. Told us we didn't have a spirit of adventure. He came back three hours later, "what a sh**hole". Old trailers, junk, etc etc
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