236 replies to this topic

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

I've got you added, Johanna!

[Jerrymxz]

Thanks Ed. Exactly what I wanted to know.
Joanne

Hello Joanne,

I was on the Truk trip this Spring. They did not require any special tech diving certs. Actually, I only have Open Water and Enriched Air certs. I was fine. They started the week off with the shallower dives, and progressed to the deeper wrecks as the week went along. You have an option of using aluminum 80's, or a larger tank ( dont recall the exact size ) with most using the larger tanks, and the few tech divers were diving with doubles and such, but most werent. Most of the shallow dives were still a hundred plus feet, but I dove 4 dives a day, and was never in deco mode by the time I got to the safety stop. I very much look forward to a return trip there, and would be happy with a repeat of Palau as well. Ed

Please put me on the interested early notification list.
Also could someone clarify what tech diving is required for this trip.
Thanks
Joanne aka globefish

Hi Joanne,

Let me qualify a couple items that Ed posted. I was the only Tech certified diver on the trip except WW who didn't do any Tech dives. Not only did the Captain set up the dives so the deepest dives were the first of the day the first wrecks TENDED to get a bit deeper as the week Progressed. All the wrecks with the exception of the Fumizuki and the I-169 submarine have a ton of relief. Meaning they are many feet from the top deck or hull side to the sand. Allowing you to plan your dives to whatever depth you are comfortable with. Most dives my buddy and I would go deep until just short of deco then work our ascent up the structure to limit or eliminate our deco obligation. The majority of the upright ships still have masts many feet high that are absolutely covered in coral and marine grow of every description. These made for great ascent paths and safety stop locations. I spent many long very enjoyable minutes slowly swimming around and around these as we ascended.
My certifications allowed me to explore deep down inside and if I wanted to stay a bit longer I have the training and gear to safely do decompression dives on high oxygen concentration deco gasses to off gas the additional nitrogen. I didn't do any long mandatory decompression dives, but I did run 6 or 8 dives into deco that mostly cleared on the ascent. Only the last deep dive of the week on the San Francisco Maru did I truly plan and execute what I would consider a formal Tech dive. But by this time of the week most people had developed the confidence to do the deck at 150 fsw. Where there are three Japanese small battle tanks on the deck. Plus all the holds are chock full of the materials to make war. On this dive there were extra air tanks placed on the deck and at 30feet plus surface supplied air on the hang bar at 11fsw. NO one needed any of it. Captain JJ and the divemasters divided the divers into two groups with 15minutes between splashes. They stayed above the wreck and watched everyone.
During the entire week the divemasters were available to escort divers to any of the notable sites inside the wrecks. Each wreck also has a small collection of artifacts that the local dive operations have recovered and placed high on the wreck so you can take photos of them. Plus the divemasters also point out all the interesting life that has taken over the outsides of all the wrecks. Every morning while we were eating breakfast Capt JJ did a very thorough “DIVE BRIEFING!!!” detailing the shipwreck and the dive site. Great macro life abounds on almost every outside surface on all the wrecks. I did 22 dives on 13 different wrecks. It was the most amazing dive week I have ever done. And yes I'm going back!! You don't need Tech certifications to go to Truk and have a great time. But no amount of advanced dive training is a waste (IF you have a good instructor). I don’t think anyone came away feeling like they missed anything because of their certifications.

[WreckWench]

Excellent summary Jerry! Speaking of Capt jj...I saw him and Kim at DEMA and they said they can't wait for our group to come back!

[Jerrymxz]

Excellent summary Jerry! Speaking of Capt jj...I saw him and Kim at DEMA and they said they can't wait for our group to come back!

I'm ready!!

[Going Postal]

Me too, let's go.

[WreckWench]

Yes I'm ready to go again....once was NOT enough!!!

[Scubatooth]

Jerry - thanks for that report...is it 2014 yet! What was your deco gas bill for the week? Then if there would be other tech qualified divers would you have done more tech/deco dives?

I have these dates and +- 3 weeks on either side locked so Im going. Im getting back into the water and hopefully by end of next year will be back on par. The only question will be will it be OC or CC for this trip.



? does the boat have any problems with scooters?

Edited by Scubatooth, 08 November 2011 - 12:32 PM.

[Jerrymxz]

I only filled my 40 twice the entire week so like $60. They only charge you for the O2 you use. I'll check my receipt. As for the more tech dives; absolutely I would have stayed longer on the Fumizuki, the sub and several other one dive wrecks. I would have extended the dive to get a couple more pictures on the aft deck and holds on the San Francisco for sure. I had 2000 psi remaining in my doubles and more than 1800psi in an al40 when I got back to my station so I had the gas to stay. The Odyssey diving is conducted in a safe manor but they will let you dive in your own way. They watch everyone throughout the week but if you conduct yourself in a competent fashion they leave you dive the way you want. They treat you like an adult. I loved the setup. Very much like Olympus in NC. There was as much or as little help as you wanted. Nitrox 24 was on tap at every station so you never had to tear your gear down, just unhook a reg and the next time you came back you had a full rig. The pony was filled when needed and there were two set up for me to use. So I could always have a full one if I wanted it.

[ev780]

Thanks Ed. Exactly what I wanted to know.
Joanne

Hello Joanne,

I was on the Truk trip this Spring. They did not require any special tech diving certs. Actually, I only have Open Water and Enriched Air certs. I was fine. They started the week off with the shallower dives, and progressed to the deeper wrecks as the week went along. You have an option of using aluminum 80's, or a larger tank ( dont recall the exact size ) with most using the larger tanks, and the few tech divers were diving with doubles and such, but most werent. Most of the shallow dives were still a hundred plus feet, but I dove 4 dives a day, and was never in deco mode by the time I got to the safety stop. I very much look forward to a return trip there, and would be happy with a repeat of Palau as well. Ed

Please put me on the interested early notification list.
Also could someone clarify what tech diving is required for this trip.
Thanks
Joanne aka globefish

Hi Joanne,

Let me qualify a couple items that Ed posted. I was the only Tech certified diver on the trip except WW who didn't do any Tech dives. Not only did the Captain set up the dives so the deepest dives were the first of the day the first wrecks TENDED to get a bit deeper as the week Progressed. All the wrecks with the exception of the Fumizuki and the I-169 submarine have a ton of relief. Meaning they are many feet from the top deck or hull side to the sand. Allowing you to plan your dives to whatever depth you are comfortable with. Most dives my buddy and I would go deep until just short of deco then work our ascent up the structure to limit or eliminate our deco obligation. The majority of the upright ships still have masts many feet high that are absolutely covered in coral and marine grow of every description. These made for great ascent paths and safety stop locations. I spent many long minutes slowly swimming around and around these as we ascended.
My certifications allowed me to explore deep down inside and if I wanted to stay a bit longer I have the training and gear to safely do decompression dives on high oxygen concentration deco gasses to off gas the additional nitrogen. I didn't do any long mandatory decompression dives, but I did run 6 or 8 dives into deco that mostly cleared on the ascent. Only the last deep dive of the week on the San Francisco Maru did I truly plan and execute what I would consider a formal Tech dive. But by this time of the week most people had developed the confidence to do the deck at 150 fsw. Where there are three Japanese small battle tanks on the deck. Plus all the holds are chock full of the materials to make war. On this dive there were extra air tanks placed on the deck and at 30feet plus surface supplied air on the hang bar at 11fsw. NO one needed any of it. Captain JJ and the divemasters divided the divers into two groups with 15minutes between splashes. They stayed above the wreck and watched everyone.
During the entire week the divemasters were available to escort divers to any of the notable sites inside the wrecks. Each wreck also has a small collection of artifacts that the local dive operations have recovered and placed high on the wreck so you can take photos of them. Plus the divemasters also point out all the interesting life that has taken over the outsides of all the wrecks. Every morning while we were eating breakfast Capt JJ did a very thorough “DIVE BRIEFING!!!” detailing the shipwreck and the dive site. Great macro life abounds on almost every outside surface on all the wrecks. I did 22 dives on 13 different wrecks. It was the most amazing dive week I have ever done. And yes I'm going back!! You don't need Tech certifications to go to Truk and have a great time. But no amount of advanced dive training is a waste (IF you have a good instructor). I don’t think anyone came away feeling like they missed anything because of their certifications.

As a non tech diver but a fair amount of experience it seems daunting at the beginning of the week and looking back you will be amazed at what you accomplish. It is a bit scary and certainly advanced diving but you are being well looked after and trained without even knowing it. No one got any stop signs that I am aware of but I am sure that the crew would have if need be. I have told everyone that the Truk trip was life changing!!!!! Both from a diving perspective and from a Fred perspective!!!

Excellent summary Jerry! Speaking of Capt jj...I saw him and Kim at DEMA and they said they can't wait for our group to come back!

I'm ready!!

Me too, let's go.

Yes I'm ready to go again....once was NOT enough!!!






Lets go!!! Lets go!!! Lets go!!!

Everyone....Save you pennies, take a second job, sell blood, anything you can to make this happen. You won't regret it!

Fred

[ev780]

So some of my post got cut off and it won't let me back in to edit. Sorry about the misspellings and the poor quoting.

[Scubatooth]

Jerry

good to know as I definately would be up for some longer run time dives, and since you have been there once you have a good idea on what to see and shoot(as this is one trip the camera isnt going to be left at home.


$30 a fill not to bad

[WreckWench]

So some of my post got cut off and it won't let me back in to edit. Sorry about the misspellings and the poor quoting.

Fred I think I fixed your post for you. You just got your typing *inside* the quotes instead of outside of them. It was an easy fix! The typo was easy too!

Thank you for the great feedback. It means the world to have this kind of feedback for our members!

[scrappykidz]

Please add me to the interested list

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

You got it,Tray!

[chachita]

Thanks Angel!

I've got you added, Johanna!