Thorfinn - Chuuk

[Augustus]

Been recently NO but one aspect I liked about the thornfin was the diving from small boats. This allowed you to dive various wrecks. If you were anchored over wreck A then your diving was then on wreck A. Diving from the boats allowed us to pick various sites to dive day by day. Back then (and I am talking ancient history 2001) I thought of the thornfin as more of a floating hotel. Large rooms etc. I was not concerned we did not up anchor an move from point A to point B. Again that was a few years back but I have a feeling that's the same today.

 

[clownfishsydney]

To be honest, you are better of spending the same amount of money as either of the liveaboards and staying at Blue Lagoon for a couple of weeks or more, doing only two dives a day. Much safer, you will see more wrecks and have a longer holiday.

 

[Rhone Man]

To be honest, you are better of spending the same amount of money as either of the liveaboards and staying at Blue Lagoon for a couple of weeks or more, doing only two dives a day. Much safer, you will see more wrecks and have a longer holiday.

I'd disagree with that. Being on the Odyssey at least, you are usually at wrecks before the land based divers get there. Sometimes that doesn't matter, but on the more popular wreck, you often find later in the day they have been all stirred up by earlier diver traffic. Nothing quite like getting in their first when everything is still crystal clear and undisturbed. Plus on a liveaboard the night dive is much, much easier.

Never been on the Thorfinn myself, but my week on the Odyssey was the best week of my diving career, and possibly, my entire life.

 

[ev780]

Confirmed Odyssey lover here. Been there twice and no reason to even consider Thorofin. There is now the Truk Siren. Never been on a Siren boat but I hear they are top notch!!

 

[Kevrumbo]

Blue Lagoon has the better resort grounds & ambiance; Truk Odyssey is the best of the recreational itinerary liveaboards (now finally providing banked 21/40 Trimix as needed for the deep San Francisco Maru) ; but the Truk Stop Hotel/Truk Lagoon Dive Center has the better tech diving support --the only dive operation in all of Micronesia with Helium readily available for mixing any desired blend of trimix and Oxygen for Eanx30, and deco mixes of 50% and 100% always available as well. Blue Lagoon Dive Shop will only guarantee He & O2 supplies if you pre-order months in advance (they now have an Oxygen generation system finally installed, but only at FO2 90% at best), while Truk Stop always has the gases for the ad-lib/drop-in traveling tech diver (larger groups though should probably call ahead).


Also, for the deeper wrecks of the Fourth Fleet Anchorage (San Francisco Maru; Aikoku Maru; Nagano Maru etc), or the Oite Destroyer at 60m and the deepest lagoon ship Katsuragisan Maru Wreck at 67m plus, the Blue Lagoon Guides on single tank will only escort you down to the wreck and rarely guide you through, while Truk Lagoon Dive Center Manager Rob McGann or Dive Guides Nuwa & Jerson on double AL80's will personally lead you on penetrations of the hull, cargo holds, superstructure & engine rooms and do the decompression profile along with you (if you're Technical Wreck/Trimix qualified). . .

Just returned to LA after three weeks at Truk Stop Hotel and a week in Palau to vote in Calif Midterm/Gubernatorial Elections today, and will be returning to Truk this Sat for another two weeks of diving the deeper rarely explored wrecks. . .

 

[Venus]

3 x on Odyssey
after 30+ liveaboard trips Odyssey is #1

The pictures posted earlier are a true representation of the boat, although the color looks a bit off

 

[bashaw77]

Any recent experiences with the Thorfinn? Particularly interested in: 1) safety of dive operation/equipment, 2) cleanliness, 3) other - internet, food, etc.

Thanks,

Hal

I seen this 2014 post, has anybody been on the SS Thorfinn in the last year, and how was it?