Packing advice for Blue Lagoon in Truk

[foglesre]

I'm heading to Truk in a couple of weeks for a week of diving at Blue Lagoon Resort. I'm going to be piggybacking off a business trip that takes me through Tokyo so I'm going to have to be selective on how much gear I bring along.

What I'm trying to decide is if I want to pack for singles or doubles. I'm cave certified and am quite comfortable with diving doubles and a bit of deco, but can't decide whether it's worth it to pack for doubles (or even how much opportunity there will be to use the doubles if I'm diving with a group).

Also, what do most people do with regards to Nitrox? EAN30 seems like it would be a good blend for much of the wreck diving Truk. My goal is to do 3 dives a day so I'd like to be able to maximize my bottom time.

Any guidance?

Thanks!

Bob

 

[Centrals]

There is no point to bring tech equipment unless you are sure that you have someone to dive with. Please enquire with Blue Lagoon.
Nitros is expensive but available.
Truk Lagoon is about 40 miles across and some of the wrecks are miles away from land. Do prepare to travel on a speed boat for quite considerable time.
Try Odyssey or Thorfinn next time to cut off all those bumpy rides.

 

[foglesre]

Yes, I definintely would have done the Odyssey if they'd had a free cabin, but no such luck. Not too worried about the boat rides; that's part of the fun.

Thanks for the advice.

Bob

 

[J105Puff]

Pack for singles, spend the extra for the EAN. Blue lagoon does a great job. Most boat rides are short. They will stag tannks for the deco dives. Rio was a great dive master.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Pack for tech with your doubles regs and at least one deco reg for Eanx50 or Oxygen. Eanx30 is fine for the majority of the wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon, but for the deeper wrecks of the 4th Fleet Anchorage (San Francisco Maru, Aikoku Maru etc), you will need to use deep air with deco (preferably both Eanx50 AND Oxygen) --or trimix if you plan on penetration and if Blue Lagoon has any Helium in stock during your visit (call first and reserve a shipment of helium at least four months in advance; the only other dive-op on Weno that has helium readily available is at the Truk Stop Hotel).

Blue Lagoon dive ops had only two sets of double manifolded DIN AL80's and a steel DIN 30 for a deco bottle, when I was there in 2007. The dive guide on single tank will only escort you down to the wrecks deeper than 45m/150' and then promptly return to shallower depths --you're on your own solo to go anywhere after that. . .

 

[Ragnar]

I was there a few months ago and they had maybe 3-4 sets of doubles assembled and we put together another two sets while there so they should have 5-6 sets now. I would definitely call and see if you could team up on a boat with other tech guys, that way you can go to some of the deeper wrecks and hopefully be around competent divers. Like most places in the world some very novice divers occasionally swing through there and I've seen some that just have no business wreck diving.......don't be on that boat.