The two land based operations are Truk Stop Hotel and Blue Lagoon.
Truk Stop is right near town making it easy to walk around and see a little of Chuuk though there isn't much to see. The hotel appears a little run down on the outside but it's nice on the inside. It's like an old fashioned hotel but they keep it clean. There is no beach but they have a great patio on the water where people usually gather. You can get an ocean view room for only $9 a day more and it's worth it. You can bargain with them on the package price.
I actually lived there for 3 months. The food is pretty good and they have several choices for each meal. They have a great buffet twice a week. The dive shop is managed by a PADI professional. They visit the exact same sites as the liveaboards and the longest ride is probably 30 minutes. Most are less.
Blue Lagoon has a very nice setting with a tropical feel and looks rustic from the outside. The rooms are pretty dated however and I didn't think well maintained. It is totally run by locals including local dive guides. The problem is that this place is very far from anything else. You are a captive when you are there. You will not have access to groceries or beer or anything else that they don't sell themselves. They do have a nice restaurant. I love the grounds and often went there on my day off to have a few beers. The liveaboard docks at this resort. As long as your expectations aren't too high, you'll like the place. You may be able to get them to take you to town. Again, they visit the exact same dive sites and they are probably 5 to 10 minutes closer to most of them.
Chuuk is a mess. It's very dirty and run down. There are few if any restaurants outside the Truk Stop and Blue Lagoon. I've been to many very poor countries that still kept what they had nice and clean. That doesn't happen here. The people are pretty nice but if I were a young woman (under 30), I wouldn't walk the streets much by myself. Many guys think women are just things to please them. Many are real pigs. Just ignore them if necessary. Peace Corp volunteers often have problems with some of the local men.
Don't let any of my comments scare you away. Both operators are fine and your cost will be much less than the liveaboards and you see the same places though you'll have fewer dives. The diving is terrific and most dives are under 100 feet. Most of the guides on the island are terrific. Overall, the island is very safe and most people are welcoming. I hope you decide to go with one of these operators instead of waiting forever for a live aboard opening. You be glad you did.
I'll be glad to go into more detail on any specific concerns you might have.
Don't know if we can do this trip, but I'd really like to look into it in more detail and there doesn't seem to be much here on SB about it. 
