Least Favorite Truk Wrecks?

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Akimbo

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A couple of friends and I are booked on the Odyssey and want make one dive the submarine I-169. I understand the crew is pretty accommodating and will run small groups to wrecks when most guests prefer another site. The real question is if you had to trade, which wreck(s) would you give up to dive the 169?

She lays in 150' North of Fefan Island and West of the Heian Maru.
 
I've been to Truk twice, each time for two weeks. The first was at Truk Stop for a week and then Odyssey for the second. I would be very surprised if Odyssey didn't dive on the I-169. They stop at virtually all the shallow and mid-range wrecks. I would let the crew know your desire and I'm confident they'll get there. Much depends on weather/visibility.
My second trip was two weeks at Truk Stop diving the deeper wrecks. Can't say enough great things about both dive operations. Odyssey will definitely spoil you. Hope you have a safe and wonderful trip.
 
Well, unless the guides on the Odyssey are going to take you on a real, no-s&*t penetration of the Heian, I'd trade it for the I-169. Honestly though, the main reason to dive the I-169 is just to say you've done it and because of the story behind it. There's not a whole lot to see there and they quit doing penetrations of it years ago. If I recall correctly a couple of guys drowned doing a penetration of the I-169. The Odyssey pretty much hits the good wrecks, so it would be a tough call which to trade for the I-169. Could be you could get the guys at the Blue Lagoon to run you out there either before you board or after you depart the Odyssey. Do twenty minutes on the I-169 and then have them run you over to the Seaplane and Betty Bomber to finish off your tank. Those are better dives than the I-169. JMHO. Have fun!
 
I have been to Chuuk six times, for up to almost three weeks at a time. I have never done the I-169 as there are so many great wrecks. I have dived submarines before, they are not exactly exciting as mostly you cannot get inside to see anything and they have little artifacts to see. Personally if you are only going for a week and on a liveaboard, I think you will only get to see perhaps 12 wrecks at the most. This does not even cover all the best wrecks, considering you need more than one dive on every wreck.
 
I know what you mean about subs, but two of us have a special affinity for them. I have never seen a Japanese sub and this one is a bit special due to its size, presence at Pearl Harbor, and that it isn’t an Operation Hailstone casualty. Besides, most of the wrecks in Truk are just merchantmen.
 
A couple of friends and I are booked on the Odyssey and want make one dive the submarine I-169. I understand the crew is pretty accommodating and will run small groups to wrecks when most guests prefer another site. The real question is if you had to trade, which wreck(s) would you give up to dive the 169?

She lays in 150' North of Fefan Island and West of the Heian Maru.
Gosei Maru or the Sankisan Maru are my least favorite. . .

However with regards to the I-169 Sub:

Successfully traversed the interior pressure hull of the I-169 Submarine in June'13 on a UTD Z-System doubles sidemount kit (Eanx28 bottom gas and O2 deco; 33m ave depth with a total penetration time of 25min; total bottom time 40min), starting at the aft open hatch and exiting a very tight partially opened bulkhead hatch near the conning tower rubble --had to dismount both tanks and feed them through the opening ahead-- very treacherous & dangerously easy to get stuck in the wreckage around this extreme restriction (I had both arms pinned at my sides at one point!), and would not recommend attempting to pass through it for large body sized divers. . . (I'm 168cm tall & weigh 70kg)

If you do go inside for the first time, I recommend no more than two divers -one of which must be an experienced Dive Guide- both with double cylinders configured in either conventional backmount or sidemount; and enter & exit through the same aft open hatch. Best not to penetrate at all if you're not advanced tech wreck trained. . .


http://www.thorfinn.net/wrekmaps/i-169-shinohara-submarine/
 
Gosei Maru or the Sankisan Maru are my least favorite. . .

Interesting, I was thinking that I could do without the Shinkoku Maru. She’s big but just a tanker. It looks like the Yamagiri and Heian are the closest to the I-169 among the wrecks the Odyssey commonly visits. I was thinking that we “might” need to swap a dive on one of them.

Truk Lagoon Dive Sites. Wrecks Truk Odyssey visits in Truk Lagoon

However with regards to the I-169 Sub:..

No worries, I don’t enter sub hatches with scuba bottles. All my hatch penetrations were either surface-supplied or on a hose from doubles left outside, plus a small bailout, and a tender outside. The only boats I have entered in Scuba had BIG holes in them and I didn’t go very far. There’s plenty for us to see outside on a single dive. Heck; it’s hard enough to walk through passageways on operational Nuclear Fast Attacks, let alone sunken diesel boats!

Thanks for the info.
 
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I know what you mean about subs, but two of us have a special affinity for them. I have never seen a Japanese sub and this one is a bit special due to its size, presence at Pearl Harbor, and that it isn’t an Operation Hailstone casualty. Besides, most of the wrecks in Truk are just merchantmen.

Do 169, I kept hearing how its really boring etc. If you have that affinity, it's a must. I loved the dive. The aft half is fairly recognizable (I am not saying intact) as a sub.

Can't pick a dive I would give up after I did 20 dives there last October.
 
Skip the sub and do the Oite instead. I have done both and the Oite was the best dive I did in Truk.
 
Skip the sub and do the Oite instead. I have done both and the Oite was the best dive I did in Truk.
HIJMS Oite Destroyer (epic dive on both wreck halves with bow penetration & engine room traverse explorations) last Dec 2013 with Rob McGann -Manager at the Truk Stop Hotel Dive-ops: 60m ave depth for 60min; 180min total run time on open circuit. Exhausted both Double AL80's and AL80 stage of 20/20 bottom mix right about at my 21m deco switch to 50%; also carried full AL80's of 50% and 100% for team lost deco gas or In-Water-Recompression contingencies. Used battery powered wetsuit heater despite warm 28deg C water temperature (you'd get cold too doing 2hrs of mandatory deco!):dozingoff:

My Helium/Oxygen Gas Bill and tank rental for my latest two week Truk dive trip attached below. . .
 

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https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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