TRUK ODYSSEY: General Info


What’s the SCUBA DIVING like in TRUK LAGOON, on the TRUK ODYSSEY ?

Because many dive magazines, for years, have been waxing rhapsodic about remote Pacific dive vessels barely worth their bilge pumps, we tend to understate a vessel’s merits, just to let our travel-savvy clients make up their own minds.   When customers are paying top dollar for world-class destinations & scuba liveaboards of the 4-star ilk, they want to rely on reputation, not Madison Avenue hype.

But one thing is for sure here: no need for frothing hyperbole about the many advantages of this exceptional Truk diving yacht.   Divers across the USA & Europe insist the boat’s quality speaks for itself, & the record shows it does so, resoundingly.   What Cliff Horton & his partner did, coming into Truk Lagoon a few years ago -- & in short order deposing one of the most famous scuba liveaboards in the world -- is nothing short of diving industry legend.   They proved those few folks willing to be their critics wrong, big time, & have engineered one of the most remarkable success stories in the last 20 years of the dive travel world.

U.S. Dive Travel has repped nearly every major liveaboard fleet in the world since the early 1990s, & we have never seen anything like the Odyssey’s meteoric climb to popularity.   Not in the Caribbean nor Pacific liveaboard arenas.   These guys are the Real McCoy & the quality of their dive vessel – the ODYSSEY of Chuuk – is fast becoming worthy of an MBA course in “How to Market a New Product in a Wild Area, starting as David but ending up as  Goliath.”

The TRUK ODYSSEY has succeeded far beyond some industry analysts early predictions for three simple reasons:
  • Their vessel is a sterling 4-star Truk liveaboard with expert service & refined amenities.   Best boat ever to work the Truk Lagoon, bar none.
  • Their attitude is humble, gracious, service-oriented & just plain fun to work with.   These folks love their jobs.
  • The price is right for a location that will be attracting adventure divers until the Good Lord comes back through the clouds.   How can any red-blooded scuba diver NOT be fascinated by a vast lagoon that hosts more than 5 dozen coral-encrusted Japanese WWII wrecks?   This place was made-to-order for dedicated wreck enthusiasts.  About the only thing they don’t have around here are Wrecks named Oedipus.

Diving in Truk Lagoon is an adventure you will never forget.   Dozens of visually dazzling WWII wrecks are scattered across 77 square miles.   The wrecks are covered with marine life, stem to stern.   There are more than 300 varieties of hard & soft corals.   This Truk liveaboard will show you tons of life, amigos! On the outer reef you'll find mountains of coral that stretch as far as the eye can see, & drops off into the abyss.   Here it is not unusual to see pelagic sharks.   This is also where we do our exciting shark dive. The water temperature ranges from 82 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.   Visibility ranges from 30' to 100' depending on where you are in the lagoon & there is little current. Since each day aboard the Truk Odyssey offers new adventures, no day is really typical.   Nothing is routine & our schedule will vary depending on location. The day aboard Truk Odyssey begins after a 7:00 a.m. hot breakfast with your first dive briefing around 7:45 a.m.   You will be able to do two dives before lunch on most calm-weather days. During lunch we usually move to a new site.   After lunch you have the option to either do another dive, or relax on the either of the sundecks or in the privacy of your own stateroom.   A late afternoon dive is also offered. Around 6:30 p.m. a sumptuous & delicious dinner will be waiting for you.   After dinner you may choose to do a night dive or simply hang around the salon, talking story & relaxing. At night guests usually gather in the entertainment lounge to enjoy a movie, or review what was captured that day in video. Since most of the dive sites in Truk Lagoon are fairly close to each other, it is easy for us to move around.   The best part about diving aboard Odyssey is that we don't require everyone to dive at the same time. So it is not unusual for you & your buddy to be the only divers on a 500' wreck.   For photographers, this offers more opportunities to shoot those popular scenes without having to wait for others to move out of the way. On board the Odyssey, Truk’s finest liveaboard vessel, you’ll find amenities equal to the world’s top liveaboards:
  • Six staterooms (14’ x 8 ’) with either king size or 2 twin beds
  • Two private single staterooms (11’ x 6’)
  • One stateroom (10 ’ x 9 ’) with a double/twin bunk
  • ALL staterooms have private ensuite facilities, air-conditioning controls, DVD player, & are carpeted.
  • Carpeted floors & air-conditioning throughout the vessel
  • Large dining area with full commercial galley
  • A separate entertainment lounge with TV, stereo, library, large slide table, & bar

TRUK ODYSSEY’s DIVE DECK FACILITIES INCLUDE:
  • Personal dive lockers
  • Two gear rinse tanks
  • Large, convenient dive platform
  • Two dive ladders
  • Fixed safety/deco bar
  • Tanks filled at your seat
  • Freshwater shower
  • Warm deck towels
  • Nitrox, for certified Nitrox divers
  • DIN or yoke valves
  • Tanks (alum 80 & steel 112), weights, & belts
  • Certifications available

TRUK TECHNICAL DIVING FACILITIES INCLUDE:
  • Double aluminum 80 tank systems
  • Dual valve isolation manifolds, DIN or yoke
  • Aluminum 30’s for deco gases
  • Fixed deco bar

PHOTOGRAPHER-SUPPORT SYSTEMS INCLUDE:
  • Large 3-tier camera table
  • Two camera rinse tanks
  • Large slide table
  • Battery charging station
  • Photo & video courses available

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS of TRUK ODYSSEY:
  • Length: 132 feet Beam: 24 feet (7.31 m) Draft: 6 feet (1.8 m)
  • Type: All welded steel, twin screw
  • Engines: 2 x Detroit Diesel 330 h.p. each
  • Cruise range: 1200 nautical miles Speed: 9 knots
  • Fresh water storage: 7,700 gallons (29,520 liters)
  • Water maker: 2 x SK Systems – 1 at 800 gallons/day; 1 at 1000 gallons/day
  • Fuel capacity: 2,500 gallons Generators: 2 x Stamford 80 kw & 1 Stamford 40 kw
  • Compressors: 2 x Mako 13.1 CFM 5000 PSI
  • Electronics: 2 x Furuno Radar (24 nautical miles), GMDSS equipped for Sea Area A3, 2 x VHF Radio, 2 x Single side band radio Magellan GPS, Furuno GPS, Furuno Depth Sounder, Compass, Furuno Weatherfax, Comnav Autopilot
  • Year originally built: 1978
  • Last refit: 2005
  • Tenders: 25-foot custom aluminum craft w/ twin 115 Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors  +  20 foot aluminum w/ 40 hp Yamaha outboard motor
  • Scuba diving support: 40 x 80 cubic foot aluminum scuba & Nitrox cylinders, DIN or yoke valves, 10 x OMS 112 cubic foot steel tanks
  • Storage banks for 7100 cubic feet Nitrox Membrane System
  • Technical diving Equipment: Dual valve isolation manifolds, DIN or yoke 16 x 30 cubic foot aluminum pony bottles, Deco bar
  • Life Saving & Fire Fighting Equipment: Life rings, life jackets, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, fire alarms, & fire fighting suit.
  • Life rafts: 1 x 25 persons -- RFD Survive inflatable

ODYSSEY OFFERS all TRUK LAGOON WRECK DIVING CLIENTS these SERVICES:
  • Wreck diving of course, big time wrecks, arguably the best in the Pacific; many say the entire world !!
  • Shark diving; in fact  -- sharks galore on good days
  • Pristine reef diving (over 300 varieties of hard & soft corals located in over 100 miles of fringing coral reef)
  • Outer reef diving to explore more than just the world-class wrecks
  • Shallow diving & also mellower dive sites for less-experienced scuba divers
  • Night diving when the weather & currents permit
  • Camera tables & camera rinse tanks
  • Battery charging station for your cameras & electronic gear
  • Free Nitrox for certified Nitrox divers
  • Variety of classes including technical classes
  • Spacious - 132’ – for only 12-16 passengers – provides better photo & video opportunities with fewer people finning about underwater
  • Large portholes or windows in each cabin
  • Fully air conditioned – all salons & staterooms
  • Private ensuite bathrooms & showers in each stateroom
  • Large entertainment lounge
  • Technical diving (double setups & DIN & YOKE systems available)
  • Diving off mother ship, rather than only small chase boats
  • Large, convenient, easy entry dive platform
  • Fixed deco/safety bar at 15 feet
  • Gear rinse tanks, with fresh water always ready for you
  • TVs & DVD players in all cabins
  • Movies to use as you wish
  • Library of books & magazines
  • Airport transfers (for those arriving & departing on charter schedule)
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner & all snacks)
  • Beer, wine & other alcoholic beverages
All Truk Odyssey photos © Copyright Odyssey Adventures.