Questions About Truk

[Laurie S.]

I've been wanting to go dive Truk for a couple years now, and have decided to go next year. I'm hoping that my husband and his friend will go with me, but if not, I'll go on my own. The three of us are going to Anilao and Puerto Galera in December, so I'm thinking of going more like late spring to summer next year. I've been reading a number of posts about diving there and just would like some advice. What time of year would you recommend? I've been in contact with the Truk Stop and they indicated that the winds settle down in April. I'm not interested in bouncing over 6-foot swells.

We'll want to stay at a resort (husband gets seasick, so no liveaboard). Which would you recommend, the Truk Stop or the Blue Lagoon? I'm an underwater photographer, if that factors into it at all.

As part of the trip, I'd like to also dive at a second location. I'm thinking of going to Palau. Would you recommend going to Truk first, and then to Palau, or the other way around. We'll probably do a week in Truk and five days in Palau. Any other suggestions?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! My husband dived Truk many years ago, but I've never been there and I'm tired of waiting.

 

[Centrals]

There are so many wrecks in Truk and one week is never enough.
Don't wait any longer because the wrecks are deteriorating fast.
How about YAP instead of Palau?

 

[Laurie S.]

I don't know anything about Yap, what would the diving be like there and the lodging? Since there is a possibility that I'll be making the trip solo, I want to make sure of my safety. Not worried about the diving, since I'm a solo diver, but just general stuff. I really would love to see the jellyfish lake in Palau, which is one reason I was thinking of visiting there.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Blue Lagoon is by far the best place to stay with best guides and multiple boats. I also would recommend staying two weeks as there are some many wrecks, they are huge and you will need multiple dives to see each one. See my web site for information about the wrecks Michael McFadyen's Scuba Diving Web Site

 

[Laurie S.]

Can I ask why Blue Lagoon is better? Is it just the guides and boats, or are the accommodations also better? Thanks!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Can I ask why Blue Lagoon is better? Is it just the guides and boats, or are the accommodations also better? Thanks!

The Blue Lagoon Resort has the larger grounds, better ambiance, and a small grocery mini-market.

Blue Lagoon dive guides -although some of the oldest most knowledgeable veteran Truk Lagoon guides still working- will only "escort" you down the mooring line on the deeper wrecks now and then you're on your own. For the more popular wrecks in recreational depth range (Fujikawa Maru, Shinkoku Maru Tanker, Heian Maru etc), they will do fine in showing you all the interesting sights to see.

Truk Stop Hotel Dive-ops for every year I went consecutively from 2007 to January 2015 (sometimes including multiple two week to month long visits per year in that span of eight consecutive years) had the best logistics for tech diving/mixed gas support, with trained & experienced Chuukese guides in Advanced Nitrox/Decompression Procedures who would actually take you through the deeper wrecks like the San Francisco Maru if you were Tech Wreck Overhead Certified, and do the requisite decompression profile with you.

Blue Lagoon Dive-ops is the more historic of the two with the new wreck artifacts museum, run by Gradvin Aisek, son of the great Kimiuo Aisek. Both have fair restaurants, with Truk Stop having the best & biggest pizza in all of Micronesia (but order it "easy on the cheese" though!). . .

 

[jorgie6]

You have some good advice & insights so far on this thread.

We've dived there 4 times with our children and always stayed at Blue Lagoon. Shipping costs have risen dramatically in the last few years..so don't go expecting gourmet fare like you would find at a "resort". Certain items on the menu at either Blue Lagoon or Truk Stop might not be available depending on when the Matson container ship is in. Just remember...you can't go wrong with the tuna. Truk Stop has a bakery as well. If you're going to be staying down at Blue Lagoon have your driver stop by for a goodie run when you leave the airport. I haven't been back since August 14...but I'll assume the roads are still terrible. There is no such thing as a quick jaunt in to town...it's a trek.

The soft coral growth on some of the wrecks will just blow you away...Chuuk was always our favorite place to dive in Micronesia , with Yap a close second. Be sure to order a copy of Andrew Marriott's book on Truk. He was able to photograph the contents of the Kimiuo Aisek Memorial Museum. It's a good introduction to the dives there. http://www.fata-morgana.net/truk-lagoon-book/

Be sure to ask about island tours on Parem or Eten. Bring some treats or school supplies& paper or coloring books for the kids if you go on walkabout. There is usually a fee to visit and you can snorkel the Japanese Zeros off Eten.
My last review on TA: Our favorite place to dive in Micronesia! - Review of Truk Blue Lagoon Resort, Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia - TripAdvisor

 

[clownfishsydney]

As far as I know, the Blue Lagoon guides still escort you on the deeper wrecks, at least they did the last time I went and when some friends went less than a year ago.

Better accommodation, nicer grounds, nicer managers, better dive guides, more boats and a lot more make Blue Lagoon the best place.

 

[jorgie6]

You should also consider Yap & Palau..you can fly to both from Guam. We've done both locations 3 times. We always stay at Manta Ray Bay in Yap. Palau is like the Disneyland of diving for Micronesia. They're bringing in plane loads of people from China/Taiwan...much more developed than Yap or Truk. While in Palau we've dived with both Sam's Tours & Fish N Fins. The prices for jellyfish lake have gone way up. You will also need to pay for a Koror State Permit . I think you can still get both permits for around $100. There may also still be a departure tax at the airport as well. Check out the Dive Happy podcasts for Yap,Palau & Truk ....some good info. Dive Happy

 

[Laurie S.]

I was reading up on Yap last night, I think that will be our second stop. I really do love the giant mantas. I am wreck certified and have dived on a number of wrecks, including penetration on several, but I am not tech certified. I would really love to do some of the deeper wrecks but I don't believe any of the three shops in Tucson offer tech instruction. I'm going to have to find that someplace in the next year.