Suggestions for a second week before/after Truk

[TulsaTime]

My son and I are going on the Truk Odyssey with our LDS Sept 17-24 this year. The LDS originally offered an optional second week in Palau but that was very recently canceled due to lack of interest by the rest of the group.

I really hate the idea of spending all of that time and money to get to Truk for only a week's worth of diving, so I'm looking for any suggestions on where to spend a second week nearby. Ideally, I'd still like to do Palau but I'm not familiar with the operators there so specific suggestions would be appreciated, either liveaboard or land-based.

The trip coordinator said that we'd be better off doing the week prior in Palau because there aren't direct flights between the islands, all routes go through Guam, and going from Chuuk-Guam-Palau incurs a long (close to 24-hour) layover in Guam vs going the other way from Palau-Guam-Chuuk.

For reference, we are both certified AOW, currently have 60+ dives each but will be close to 100 by the trip, and have previously done one liveaboard (the Caribbean Explorer II).

 

[CptTightPants21]

Palau is an option. Another is Hawaii the week after. The early morning Monday flight from Truk allows for a relatively easy transition to HNL (from Guam). HNL, Big Island, Maui....

You could also stop in CA and do diving off the West Coast (but I would probably pick Hawaii)

 

[clownfishsydney]

Stay in Chuuk and do a week at Blue Lagoon. You will never regret it.

 

[steady1570]

Stay in Chuuk and do a week at Blue Lagoon. You will never regret it.

Totally agree

 

[Damselfish]

As far as suggestions for another week in Truk, is that what you are looking for or do you want to add on something different? Combining Truk and Palau makes sense if you want more variety on the trip, but as you already know you want to pay close attention to the flight days/times when planning the order of things as flight schedules are just (understandably) weird in the Pacific islands. Yap is another possibility. Not everyone is a fan but I liked it quite a bit, and it doesn't have to be just about mantas.

I personally think liveaboard is the best way to dive Palau, unless there's a specific reason not to. Like not liking liveaboards, looking for a less expensive (and less dives) alternative, being with a non-diver, or maybe just a desire for more beach time. We've done the Palau Aggressor, but very long ago so I don't have current info on that one. We did Ocean Hunter 3 in 2015. The boats are different but both were great trips. On land we've only stayed at Palau Pacific for some pre and post-trip days, which does have a dive shop with boat dives leaving from there and even something of a shore dive. It's a nice resort but depends what you want for accommodations. There's a number of other hotels people have used that are talked about on other threads here.

Another possibility not immediately obvious is someplace in the Philippines. We actually combined that with Palau last time (specifically a liveaboard to Tubataha) after discovering there was a direct flight from Palau to Manila and the timing worked perfectly for us. Obviously not as convenient from Truk, but Truk-Guam-Manila might have some decent options. (Granted it involves more traveling, as there would then be a domestic flight in the Philippines, or a longish land and/or ferry transfer to someplace like Anilio or Puerto Gallera.)

 

[Centrals]

1. One week is never enough in Truk.
2. Instead of going to Palau, how about Pohnpei or Kosrae? I believe the flight from Guam to Truk will continue onward to those two places. Check the schedule please.

 

[bashaw77]

I just spent 17 days at Blue Lagoon 16 days diving at least 2 dives a day dove some wrecks 2 and 3 times seen something new each time greatest dive trip ever, don't burn time in airports Dive Truk

 

[TulsaTime]

Thank you all for the great information & suggestions. As for what it is that I'm looking to do there, well, honestly, I don't know what I don't know! I'm not familiar with the region at all other than the reviews and comments I've read on SB. I know that based on what I've read here and heard elsewhere that I definitely do want to do Palau at some point but perhaps this isn't the trip for that.

Probably the most limiting factor is the navigational unknowns for the region and the fact that my son only has the two weeks of vacation. After looking at some of the liveaboard schedules for Palau, it seems like it might be difficult to do a liveaboard there and on the Odyssey while factoring in the delay before flying again and limited flight options among the islands.

Those advocating for a second week on Chuuk - that's an option that I hadn't even considered. It would be easiest route, certainly. But it looks like that would result in just a single two-tank dive per day with possibly a night dive? Does that then leave a lot of land-based idle time? I've heard that there's not much to do ashore on Chuuk so just wondering...

 

[Damselfish]

If tight on time probably skip my Philippine idea. Pohnpei or Kosrae are interesting ideas, actually places I want to do sometime especially Kosrae. It's just that people tend to hit the more mainstream stops of Truk/Palau/Yap first. Part of it is, I think you can only get to Pohnpei and Kosrae via the island hopper route, which sounds like it can be an adventure in itself (google "micronesia Island hopper" for some interesting reading.) That may be another idea to skip this time if you're not flexible on time. A stopover in Hawaii to break up the trip back can be a good idea too. But so much of planning a trip to the region, especially if you decide to hit 2 places, is lining up the flights in a way that makes sense. Besides weird times some flights are only certain days. Start playing around with flight schedules using the dates you already have fixed and the other days you think you might want to travel. You might find that starts to make some places look like better ideas than others.

 

[bashaw77]

a couple of the guys I dove with for a week were doing 4 dives a day then they cut back to 3 dives a day, I did 3 dives a day for about 3 days
when I wasn't diving I just hung out listened to music or read book in the shade, the sunset bar opened at 4 and all the divers would get together and discuss what they seen that day