Micronesia and Truk

[slackercruster]

I would like to put a trip together for myself and wife to dive Micronesia and Truk. (I especially like the W.W.II airplane wrecks.) What is the best way to go about it from a US departure? Is it the sort of dive destination where you just go to the location and then make arrangements for the dives with dive charters? Is it any more expensive than diving other dive destinations, say in the Caribbean? What was your overall experience from your dives there?

Thanks

 

[Diver Dennis]

Call Chris at World of Diving. 1-800- GO DIVING. Used him for our trip in November last year. Great pricing and service.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Loved the diving there, especially Palau. You can book everything in advance and have no worries when you are there, including transfers and diving.

 

[donacheson]

I would like to put a trip together for myself and wife to dive Micronesia and Truk. (I especially like the W.W.II airplane wrecks.) What is the best way to go about it from a US departure? Is it the sort of dive destination where you just go to the location and then make arrangements for the dives with dive charters? Is it any more expensive than diving other dive destinations, say in the Caribbean? What was your overall experience from your dives there?

Thanks

You'll see more WWII aircraft wrecks in Truk than in Palau or Guam on the normal round of diving sites. I don't know about wrecks in the boonies in Micronesia, but I'd guess there are plenty to be seen if you find a good guide.

As for travel to Micronesia from the US, Continental via Hawaii is the usual way to go. There's a non-stop to Guam and an island hopper (used to be Air Micronesia largely owned and operated by Continental) to Guam going and the same returning.

 

[Diver Dennis]

And yes, it can be expensive.

 

[slackercruster]

What is the best time of year for Palau and Truk Lagoon? Do they have a hurricane or tropical storm season like Florida does? Is most of the diving boat dives or is there good beach dives as well?

Thanks

 

[donacheson]

What is the best time of year for Palau and Truk Lagoon? Do they have a hurricane or tropical storm season like Florida does? Is most of the diving boat dives or is there good beach dives as well?

Thanks

There are shore-based dive operations in both places, but IMHO a liveaboard is much to be preferred - more diving, no long small boat rides, diving on the sites at the best times, etc. I know of no shore diving in either place, but that's really an uninformed opinion, always having dived from liveaboards in both places.

 

[Scared Silly]

Yes more expensive than most places:

Land based on Chuuk (Truk Stop or Blue Lagoon) $100-$140 per night for a room, $100 for 2 dives + meals.

Live-a-board for Truk Lagoon $2500/week for the Odyssey, not sure about the Thornfin (mixed reviews).

We overnighted in Hawaii and took the Island hopper as we stopped in Pohnpei for a week as well.

There is not much in Chuuk so doing a live-a-board is better cause you can dive your brains out. There is certainly more to see in Pohnpei.

As for the weather, because they are very near to the Equator the major storms spawn and move away from there. But it can be very rainy at times any time during the year.

Do a search and you can find my write up from this past May.

 

[CARHILL]

The summer months the seas around here tend to be calm (no trade winds) more dive sights are open. Truk is the place for wreck dives not much to see on the island. I would do a live aboard. For making travel arrangements MDA get the best deals in this part of the world. I do not know any diver on my island that dosen't use them for making dive reservations. The person to talk to is Cindy at phone: 671.472.6321 fax:671.477.6329 Sumay 339-2230 Nex 564-6321 http://www.mdaguam.com
As for other islands in the area Pohnpei, Kosrae, Yap one of my places I like to dive, Rota (use Mark at Dive Rota) Guam has some wrecks as does Palau, and Ulithi Atoll
I almost forgot my Island of Saipan and Tinian.
If you need anyother info send me a PM.

Dale on a little rock in the Pacific Ocean

 

[slackercruster]

What sort of wetsuits? Shorty, full or are just dive skins OK?

Thanks again for all the advice.