This trip will definitely be the biggest yet by Ocean View.
The dates are 26th November to 10th December 2014. I have previously emailed details of the trip to club members, and I held a presentation at the club. I will bullet point some details below. If you are considering this trip, please post below and I will send you a link to the presentation.
– Seven nights all inclusive Liveaboard diving the most famous wreck site in the world
– Majority of wrecks are within a recreational depth limit
– Four nights staying at The Blue Lagoon resort on a B&B basis
The cost of the above is £2250
Truk is a long way from sunny Sussex, so obviously a lot of travel is involved. There will be at least three flights to get there. I will be getting quotes for flights, but there is no obligation to use these flights, if you want to arrange your own, or extend the break this is completely feasible. The flight prices are still not available at time of posting as they are only released 10 months prior to departure. If the trip was running this year the fights would of been available at £1350, with the Liveaboard price, this would of totalled £3600 for a once in a lifetime trip. If you allowed the flights a 10% increase it would be £1535, I have asked those that have booked the trip to budget £1800 for flights, I think that this will be way over what we will get the flights for, but we don’t want any sneaky costs. When the flights are released (end of January/ beginning of February 2014) I will contact everyone on the trip to advise, it will then be up to you to book the flight direct with the operator or arrange your own. I have requested quotes from three separate operators to ensure that we get the best prices available.
As of November 2013 13 spaces have been taken, thus leaving 3 spaces to fill. The initial deposit is £400, but there will be another payment due shortly.
The presentation for this trip is fairly extensive and far too big to email. If you are seriously interested, please let me know.
Here are some more details about Chuuk.
Also known as Truk, but was changed to it’s original name in 1986 when the Compact of Free Association went into effect. The compact is a 15-year political relationship with the United States that started in October, 1986.
Chuuk state consists of seven major island groups lying within the Eastern Caroline Islands, about 617 miles (1028 km) southeast of Guam and 3,262 miles (5,436 km) southwest of Hawaii. The total land mass of Chuuk state, including the outer islands, is approximately 77 square miles (128 km)
Location: 7 degrees North, 149 degrees East
Native Inhabitants: Chuukese
Official Language: Chuukese and English
Currency: US Dollar
Time: Greenwich Mean Time +10
Telecommunications: International telephone, telex and facsimile service is available through the larger hotels and the FSM Telecommunications Center. The country code for telephone and facsimile service is 691 and the telex code is 729.
Postal System: US Postal Service
Electricity: 110 volts/60 cycles
Climate: Between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit (26-30 degrees Celsius); averaging 81 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius)
Water temperature: 82-84 degrees
Seasons: Dry season between December and April; Rainy season, April to December.
Rainfall: Annual average is approximately 115 inches
Getting there: Continental Airlines with routings through Guam and Honolulu.
Flying time: 5 hours from Los Angeles to Honolulu, 7 hours from Honolulu to Guam, 2 hours from Guam to Chuuk – all figures are approximate.
Departure tax: $20 US cash collected at airport prior to departure
Entry requirements: US citizens, proof of citizenship is required. Citizens of other countries must have a valid passport and a return or onward ticket. However, please verify requirements with the appropriate embassy.
Medical: The government operated hospital on Weno is adequate to take care of all normal needs. Please remember to bring enough prescription medication you may need for the entire length of your stay.
Clothing: Summer clothing is worn throughout the year. On island, women favor cotton dresses, muumuus, Bermuda shorts, loafers or sandals. Short shorts and mini skirts are inappropriate attire, especially in more traditional areas. Men wear lightweight slacks or shorts, sport shirts, comfortable shoes or sandals. Sunglasses are recommended.
Here are some of the divesites, as you will see, you don’t have to be a “Tek Diver” to come on this trip.
Fujikawa Maru Lush coral growth. Zero airplane fuselages and wing sections. 140m long, 0-40m deep
Yamagiri Maru 18″ diameter artillery shells of Battleship Musashi. 140m long, 18-40m deep
Nippo Maru 2 man tank and artillery guns on deck. Photogenic wheelhouse. 110m long, 15-45m deep
Heian Maru Torpedoes and submarine telescopes. Massive size. 165m long, 10-30m deep
Sankisan Maru Lush soft coral growth on mast. Machine gun ammunition in hold. 60m long, 0-30m deep
Hoki Maru Trucks, bulldozer and tractor in hold. Massive destruction of bow. 80m long, 12-30m deep
Unkai Maru Photogenic bow gun. Good coral growth on masts. 110m long, 10-35m deep
Rio de Janiero Maru Awesome size. Photogenic propellers. Large engine room. 140m long, 12-35m deep
Hanakawa Maru Lush soft and hard coral growth. 110m long, 3-35m deep
Fumitzuki Destroyer Bow and stern guns, torpedo launcher. 100m long, 25-35m deep
Betty Bomber Japanese small twin engine bomber. 18m long, 15-18m deep
Momokawa Maru Aircraft parts, truck frames and artillery shells. 120m long, 25-45m deep
Shinkoku Maru Lush coral growth. Fantastic marine life. Excellent engine room. 160m long, 9-40m deep
Aikoku Maru Massive destruction of bow. Photogenic stern gun. 85m long, 30-60m deep
San Francisco Maru Tanks on deck. Trucks, mines, bombs and ammunition in holds. 120m long, 30-60m deep
Pizion Reef Wall dive. Large coral heads in the shallows. Sharks 5m-60+ deep
Not all sites are visited every week. Weather, water conditions, dive skills and experience and guest requests are all taken into consideration on planning the particular itinerary of each trip.
