Inclusions:

14 days/13 nights, Air fills, weights and dive tanks. Nitrox, Beer, juice and soft drinks, 2 x Dive masters, All meals and food, Juice and Soda, Bottled Water, airport transfers, port fees, taxes, Bikini reserve fee.

The Plan:

This trip has been chartered by a group of friends from the USA who want to explore the reefs in this remote part of the Pacific. They are all seasoned and experienced divers, but they are not intending to dive outside recreational diving limits. While the expedition will dive some wrecks, including the deck of the Saratoga at Bikini, they won’t be doing any technical or very deep/planned staged decompression diving — the goal is to visit the reefs of atolls long off-limits due to nuke testing radiation. This is a way for non-tech divers to visit Bikini and dive (the deck of) its most impressive wreck.

The destination:

This private charter offers the very rare opportunity to dive the
reefs of islands closed to visitation and habitation for decades due to fallout from
nuclear testing at Bikini and nearby atolls. T

he Marshall Islands’ diving is
extraordinary, with unusually clear, warm water, vibrant pristine reefs with over
2,000 species of fish, and significant wrecks. Explore the sites that played a part
in a fascinating, unique chapter in world history.

Diving Itinerary: 

Prinz Eugen (WWII German cruiser) in Kwajalein Atoll — Wotho Atoll —Rongelap Atoll — Bikini Atoll (reefs and deck of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga sunk during Operations Crossroads. Potentially the Castle Bravo crater) — Alinganae Atoll — Rongerik Atoll — Roi Namur aircraft dump at Kwajalein Atoll (four B-25s, a TBF Avenger, an F4U, 4 Douglas SBD Dauntlesses, and a C-46)

Please contact DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL for further information: info@diversiondivetravel.com.au

Diving in Bali is diverse and there are several world class dive sites to choose from. At Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida you have a good chance of spotting sunfish in season (July to September), at Tulamben the coral covered USAT Liberty is resting on the bottom just of the coast and is waiting to be explored, Menjangan island is famed for its diversity in coral and crystal clear waters and the Gili Islands is the perfect place for combining diving with relaxation and a little partying on the laid back islands.

To make it a little easier to pick a destination in Bali or on one of the surrounding islands Mads Rode and Stefan Russel  have written this free e-book. The book covers all Bali’s major dive destinations and hard facts, like water temperatures, current strength and depths combined with short descriptions of the area above water and each area’s most popular dive sites help you in deciding where to empty your tanks in Bali. You can download the book here:
Book on diving Bali.

Here is  the matching dive resort overview

Truk Lagoon

We asked our newsletter readers this question recently. The right answer is 30 years. Many participants mad an extra effort and added comments, some where quite funny or even informative and we like to share them with you:

• 30 years. got my fingers, toes, legs and arms crossed, makes it really hard to dive like this though

• Whale Sharks need to be about 30 years old to procreate. I am 54 years young today and have been procreating about 30 years.

• They reach maturity at the age of 30 years.  (Wish I was still 30!)

• 30. Please, please, please…..
• 30 !! P.S. does the fact that 30th Jan is my birthday help me win? 
• 30 years. Do they serve eggs benedict at Blue Lagoon Hotel?
• 30 years of age (a bit like human maturity really!!!)
• Please pick me haha
• 30. Happy New Year guys! Great newsletter!
• 30 years. I’ll be saying my prayers every night and crossing all my fingers and toes
• Hi!! I saw this competition and couldn’t resist giving it a go!! I’ve been obsessed with sharks since I was a kid!
• 30 years!!! I want my prize!
• The Newsletter says after they grow 9 metres and are about 30 years old. Other marine biologists with whom I have spoken believe it is possible from 25 years on, or even younger – providing still the 9 metre length requirement! And all this proves is how much we have to learn about these AMAZING creatures!

The answers didn’t influence the outcome, but they brought some smiles on our faces.  Thank you everybody for participating in our competition to win a stay in Truk Lagoon in the beautiful Blue Lagoon Resort. The winner is…..Jodie Lee from Brisbane! Congratulations Jodie.  Jodie won 6 nights twin share accommodation with airport transfer from/to Weno airport/Resort  in

Truk Lagoon’s Blue Lagoon Resort

The Prize is for 2 divers and also  includes 10 dives per person!

Fortunately for the reef, its inhabitants and of course scuba divers the site of the incident is about 1000 to 1200 km away from our top dive sites in the Ribbon Reefs and the Coral Sea. As you know the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef is about 2000 km. We therefore expect no direct effect on the reef, however, there are a lot of wquestions to be asked. I hope this review can provide clarity there.

As of now (April 7, 12.00 midday, Australian time) it looks like the weather conditions are good, and a breakup of the freighter is no longer feared. Currently, the remaining oil is being pumped to another vessel, and it is hoped that the freighter be pulled from the reef. This outcome would mean that the reef escaped a major drama. The dive manager of Heron Island, a popular diving island is just 70km from the site of the incident told me that there were no effects on the diving operation (either the short or long term) as result.

The Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society http://www.amcs.org.au agrees that the incident will hopefully lead to an increased supervision of the shipping route in the southern part of the Barrier Reef Marine Park.

What actually happened: Reports have it that a maximum of 2 to 4 tons of oil have escaped and dispersed with aerial spraying. Even small amounts of oil in the wrong place can be very destructive. In proportion to the total size the Barrier Reef is a very limited problem, as long as this remains an isolated case and this section of the reef is not further damaged. What was visible on television screens is not oil, but stirred up sand mixed with crushed coral.

It is election year in Australia and both political parties have written the protection of the Barrier Reef on their banners. The massive international attention that has been caused by this incident lets us hope as a first measure the movements of ships in this part of the Barrier Reef Marine Park will be better controlled.

What is often neglected in such accidents are the constant threats to the Great Barrier Reef which are present every day. There is the “normal” pollution by sewage from the villages on the Queensland coast and the sugar cane industry which is the source for large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers being washed to sea. We in Queensland work systematically to combat these negative influences. New sewage treatment plants are set up everywhere, and improved agricultural practices help farmers to not only save money for fertilizer, but to lessen the pressure on the reef.

Completely unpredictable, unfortunately, are the effects of global warming and global overfishing of the seas. This is where we are all asked to be part of a global solution.

One of the most important global initiatives to stabilize the Great Barrier Reef is the declaration of a Marine Sanctuary which extends beyond the reach of the Barrier Reef and is intended to protect fish stocks. http://www.protectourcoralsea.org.au/
This proposal is currently under discussion and it’s approval would be a great step forward not just for the Great Barrier Reef, but for the entire South Pacific.

I hope that this incident will help, to further improve the already strong protection of the Great Barrier Reef. For you scuba divers out there, I’m confident that we’ll have first class reefs to be dived for years to come.

Keep blowing bubbles!

Dirk Werner-Lutrop

Tech/Deep Dive Week on Truk Odyssey

Normally these Deep/Technical weeks are booked only by private group charter. It is a rare occurance that we have one of these special weeks that is open to technical divers that are not part of a group.

Many of the dives during this week will be on a small handful of wrecks that are about 62 m for maximum depth with the deck levels at around 45-50 m. This is similar to the depths of the very popular San Francisco Maru. Among the wrecks that are planned to be dived are:

•  San Francisco Maru (45-63m)
• Aikoku Maru  (40-64m)
• Fujisan Maru  (37-61m)
• Nagano Maru (40-65m)
• Shotan Maru (40-53m)
• Amagisan Maru (31-61m)

This is just some of the sites you can visit. They are not generally part of Truk Odysseys standard itinerary. The final itinerary willnot be determined until all guests are onboard and their preferences are known. So if you are interested in a particular wreck, let us know!

About Truk Odyssey

The Odyssey is a 132-foot liveaboard located Chuuk (Truk) in the Federated States of Micronesia. On board the Odyssey, Truk’s finest liveaboard vessel, you’ll find amenities consistent with the world’s top liveaboards. 12 to maximum 16 divers find ample space on this boat.

The Odyssey boasts nine large, luxurious staterooms all fully carpeted with private air conditioning controls, windows or large portholes, and private toilet, shower and sink all in every stateroom. Six of the staterooms are equipped to easily accommodate two single travellers in twin beds or a couple in a spacious king size bed.

Also available are two staterooms for single travellers only – they have all the features of the double staterooms and easily accommodate the single traveller in a twin bed. The ninth stateroom’s sleeping arrangements are a bunk bed with a double bed below and twin above.

During your stay in Truk Lagoon you will find that the majority of your diving will easily be done directly off the Odyssey while they are moored over the dive site.

You’ll find that the spacious dive platform (13′ x 6′) has plenty of room for all divers. There are two 7′ ladders to help you out of the water where you can step up to the convenient freshwater shower to rinse off with. Just 4 steps to the dive deck and you’ll find the camera rinse tanks (one on either side of the boat). Past the camera rinse tanks are the gear rinse tanks.

There’s plenty of space to hang your wetsuit on the bar just in front of the protected fan blowing warm air out of the engine room!

About Tech/Deep week

Truk Odyssey will provide twin tanks with dual valve isolation manifolds. Divers will need to bring the proper gear to work with that tank set-up. However, using double tanks is not required. Divers who prefer a large single tank with a pony bottle may use that set-up instead. Truk Odyssey will also provide 30 cft. pony bottles that are O2 clean. Divers will need to bring their O2 clean regulator to use with deco mixes.

Not all divers will be qualified to join this trip. Only those divers who are trained and experienced with diving those depths should book for this trip.

There is a US$250 per person tech fee for this week which includes the cost of O2. 100% O2 will be surface supplied to the hang bar and pony bottles will be available for other deco mixes. Also, the number of divers will be limited to 12 for this week.

This make the total retail price at US$3,045 per person (~AU$3790), plus the usual US$60 tax/permit fees (~AU$ 75).

Flights

For Australia originating travellers, flights from Cairns to Truk with Continental Micronesia start from AU$ 1050.00 including air taxes and fuel surcharges.

For travellers from Asia, flights on Continental Micronesia from Manila to Truk start at US$ 680 including taxes and surcharges.

For more information contact us at DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL 1800 607 913 or e-mail:info@diversionOZ.com

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