Truk Lagoon | Master Liveaboards

Diving Truk Lagoon

Truk is best known for its world-class wreck diving and with over 60 wrecks, from supply vessels (Maru) to planes and a submarine, tightly packed into a coral reef lagoon. It is easy to appreciate why divers travel to this area time and time again. During WWII, the Japanese fleet used Truk as one of their main staging points for attacks on the allied forces but in 1944 the American led “Operation Hailstone” surprised the fleet resulting in the plethora of dive sites which we can see there today.

Many historical artifacts such as medicine bottles and newspapers along with articles of war, which include aircraft wings for the Zero Fighter planes, tanks, guns, gas masks and ammunition, can still be found at many of the
sites. Whilst the wrecks themselves are encrusted with corals, you can still clearly see telegraphs, steering columns and mounted guns. There is also the opportunity to explore engine rooms and holds. Surrounded by a coral reef, there are many
excellent coral pinnacles and deep channels with schooling pelagics too!

Experience the Wreck Diving Capital of the World with the Truk Master and dive deeper into history!

Truk Liveaboard

Built of steel, the Truk Master is the newest liveaboard yacht to ply the waters of this lagoon, welcoming aboard 16 guests for 7 or 10 night Truk Lagoon dive safaris, whilst on the Bikini itineraries availability is limited as the Truk Master carries 11 divers only. Our 4 decks provide ample space for relaxation, dive equipment and camera preparation, whilst our experienced crew ensures you receive only the highest quality service on your diving vacation.

Diving Bikini – The Marshall Islands

Bikini Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which covers nearly 1 million square miles of idyllic emerald-green coral atolls, surrounded by the crystal-blue waters of the Pacific. A one of a kind diving paradise, as it features not only beautiful reefs, corals and wonderful marine life. Above all, it is the final resting place for some of the most significant warships in history. Bikini Lagoon is the first UNESCO World Heritage site for the Marshall archipelago and is undisputedly ranked first on any serious wreck divers’ bucket-list. This is well justified; nowhere else on earth you will be able to dive such a unique collection of historic battleships, cruisers, as well as the world famous USS Saratoga aircraft carrier with its 270m (888ft.) flight deck.

Bikini, Republic of the Marshall Islands Itinerary

The following is a sample itinerary of dive sites and wrecks we may visit during your liveaboard safari with Master Liveaboards in Bikini Atoll. We wish to show you the very best diving possible but a number of factors can determine where we visit. Weather, tides, currents and other factors play a part in the Cruise Director’s decision of which route the yacht takes. Whilst we attempt to ensure the number of dives we have scheduled is fulfilled, bad weather can hinder the yacht’s ability to reach a specified dive site in good time. The safety of all on board is paramount and we always do our best in offering diving at alternate locations should we be unable to visit those sites listed below.

As most wrecks at Bikini Atoll are beyond recreational depth limits, this itinerary is recommended only for technical divers with previous wreck experience.

Your Cruise Director will schedule min. 2 dives per day. The diving day has a typical schedule as follows:

Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2
Snack, relaxation,
Dinner

Explosive history
In 1946, following the end of World War II, the United States gathered together a “mock” naval fleet in order to test the effects of atomic bomb blasts on a large naval fleet. They named it Operation Crossroads and designated Bikini Atoll to be one of the sites for the explosive tests, with the local inhabitants displaced to another atoll. More Operations followed suit; from land, on the reef, on the sea, from the air and underwater. Between 1946 and 1958, the United States tested a grand total of 67 nuclear weapons on the Marshall Islands, of which ‘Castle Bravo’ on Bikini Lagoon in 1954 is the best-known. This 15-megaton TNT hydrogen atomic bomb was a thousand times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It left a crater in the lagoon of 2 kilometres wide and 76 metres deep. Bikini Atoll was opened for diving in 1996, allowing divers to experience some of the most historic and unparalleled wreck diving in the world.

Detailed itinerary information:
https://pax.wwdas.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/bikini_itinerary_10_11_nights.pdf
https://pax.wwdas.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/bikini_itinerary_13_14_nights.pdf

Dive Site Description

Truk Diving Itinerary

On a typical day we offer up to 4 day dives, however the 4th day dive may be substituted for a night dive when the boat is anchored within the lagoon. A 7 night itinerary provides for between 18-20 dives, whilst during our 10 night itineraries, up to 30 dives will be possible. The diving day aboard the Truk Master is scheduled as follows:-

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1.
Full Breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2.
Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3.
Snack relaxation period, briefing and Dive 4, where possible. Dinner.

Many of the wrecks lie within recreational diving depths, however the Truk Master also offers Tec diving facilities for those wishing to delve deeper in the wrecks and take a closer look at history.

Dive the superb wrecks of the Japanese WWII fleet which lay in a variety of depths with the Truk Lagoon. Our 7-night or 10-night itineraries allow you to explore not only many of the famous wrecks but to experience some superb reef diving also. There are numerous channels that cut through the reef which serve as hunting grounds for reef sharks and shooling pelagics which all add to the wonder of diving Truk.

Departing from Weno, our 7-night and 10-night liveaboard dive trips on the Truk Master take you directly to the main concentration of wrecks lying within the bay. The Truk Master will moor over the deeper wrecks allowing for you to descend easily down the line directly to the wreck. Tec divers will benefit from the support of the “mother ship”, whilst our 2 skiffs are able to shuttle less experienced divers to the shallower sites and offer reef diving as an alternative to the wrecks.

Many of the wrecks are “Maru” or merchant vessels that had been left at anchor, some had been fortified with anti-aircraft weapons and many carried important army supplies including Zero Fighter aircraft parts, tanks, torpedo shells, trucks and road supplies. Bottles, cooking utensils, items from everyday life and personal artifacts can be found in several of the wrecks, serving as a reminder to the visiting divers of those who lost their lives during the battle. The more gruesome reminders of the conflict, such as human skulls, have since been removed and may now only be seldom seen in the deeper reaches of the wrecks.

Detailed itinerary information: https://pax.wwdas.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/truk_lagoon_itinerary.pdf

Dive Site Description

Yacht Information

The Astral Star, a long range cruiser built by Codecasa and designed by Camper Nicholson, has joined the Master Liveaboards brand and has undergone a full refit prior to her re-launch as the Truk Master. The refit was overseen by the experienced yacht building team of Worldwide Dive and Sail, Jan & Frank Van Der Linde.

Guests may choose between lower, middle and upper deck cabins, each of which are en-suite and have individual air conditioning units. Communal relaxation areas are split between the middle and upper decks comprising of a spacious indoor dining area, camera set up station and guest storage drawers, lounge bar with comfortable bench seating and plasma screen, shaded outdoor seating area and a sundeck.

Dive equipment is set up and stored on the rear of the middle deck. All guests are allocated an individual set up station, with under bench storage for masks, fins and other personal items. A central camera table can be used to store prepared equipment ahead of the dive, with dedicated rinse tanks provided. Divers can take advantage of the on deck shower hoses or use the starboard side deck head to rinse off between dives. The Captain welcomes you to join him at the fly-bridge, from where you can soak up the stunning views of the islands of Truk Lagoon.

Tech divers will find on board all the latest tec diving facilities and equipment to fully enable them to explore those ultimate wrecks:
• Deco bar for stage/deco stops under M/V Truk Master
• Booster pump for gas blending & rebreather tank fills
• Manifold twin-tanks (DIN & Intl. available)
• MKVI filters (upon request)
• Sofno lime for rebreathers – Dependent on Use
• Rebreather tanks
• 12l Deco stage tanks (band, sling & clips) – 40cuft/80cuft stage/bailout cylinders
• Oxygen
• Helium

Schedule and Rates

Schedules for 2017

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Schedules for 2018

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Schedules for 2019

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For each liveaboard safari in Truk Lagoon, the following additional fees are payable locally:- Port, permit and tax fees : 7 nights US$195, 10 nights US$250

Land excursions are included in your cruise free of charge (but exclude local land access charges of around $5-10) and the following are available for an additional fee:

• Full dive equipment rental
• Nitrox
• Alcoholic beverages
• Satellite internet
• Master Liveaboards merchandise

Getting there and away… Our itinerary is built around the United Airlines flight from Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL). Therefore, we highly recommend you booking this flight to arrive at Kwajalein airport (KWA). Passengers travelling from the Marshall Islands are required to pay an airport departure tax, for Kwajalein this is currently 40US$. This varies from airport to airport and must be paid in US$.

On arrival… No visa is required for entering the Marshall Islands for US citizens, EU countries, Canada and most other Western countries. Nevertheless, we recommend our guests to check for any updates and changes with their nearest Marshall Islands embassy or consulate. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the period you intend to stay in the Marshall Islands. If you are traveling with medication, please ensure to bring your physician’s prescription with you.

Staying there… The local currency in the Marshall Islands is the US Dollar (US$). Major businesses will accept credit cards; traveller’s cheques are accepted by banks and larger businesses. The number of ATMs on the islands is very limited, so we recommend bringing a sufficient amount of USD in cash, preferably in smaller denominations.

Climate and weather… The climate of the Marshall Islands is a tropical climate, with temperatures averaging between 27 and 29C (80-84F) all year round, with some trade winds and a light cooling down in the evening. Generally, the northern islands tend not to receive as much rainfall as the southern islands.

Time zone… The local time in the Marshall Islands is 12 hours ahead of UTC (GMT).

Health… In the Marshall Islands, medical care is very basic with the ‘best’ medical facility in Majuro. Any form of treatment other than basic requires evacuation. Normal precautions should be taken with food and it is advisable to drink bottled water only. No vaccinations are required before entering the Marshall Islands, however; we recommend consulting your doctor for updated information well before departure.
Radioactive radiation to which divers are exposed from the shipwrecks is negligible, since water acts as an excellent insulator. Divers are safe, as long as they do not try to grab souvenirs from the wrecks. Pilfering is forbidden and hazardous.

Travel Advisories… We recommend that you book your international flight to and from Kwajalein Airport (KWA), which is served by United Airlines 3 times per week from Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL) and takes around 7 hours. (The HNL – MAJ – KWA flight leaves on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so generally you will have to leave the day before that (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) from Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) to make the connection.) Ideally, you arrive in Honolulu one day in advance of your flight to Kwajalein as this flight departs early in the morning. Keep in mind you will be crossing the date line traveling to Kwajalein Atoll. There is also a flight from Guam arriving at Kwajalein, however; we have scheduled our itinerary around the Honolulu flight.

Detailed trip information:
https://pax.wwdas.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/bikini_trip_info_sheet_kwajalein_kwajalein.pdf
https://pax.wwdas.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/bikini_trip_info_sheet_kwajalein_majuro_or_v_v.pdf

Getting there and away… The Truk Master embarks and disembarks at Chuuk International Airport. Take your international flight into and out of Chuuk International Airport (TKK) on Weno Island. Disembarkation at the end of the cruise will be just before 10am. Most flights to Chuuk International Airport (TKK) require transit via Guam, United States. Other possibilities are: via Hawaii or Port Moresby. Passengers travelling within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are required to pay an airport departure tax, for Chuuk this is currently 40US$. This varies from airport to airport and must be paid in local currency.

On arrival… Passport holders of most western countries may obtain a visa on arrival which allows stays up to 30 days, meanwhile travellers from the United States may obtain a tourist visa for up to 1 year stay. Please make sure that your passport has validity of at least 4 months upon arrival into Chuuk and you are also required to show a confirmed ticket to leave Chuuk, or any country you are transiting through, prior to boarding your flight. For more information please visit the Chuuk Visitor’s Bureau.

Staying there… The local currency is the US Dollar (US$). The majority of established hotels, shops and restaurants accept major credit cards. However, smaller establishments are likely to only accept cash payments. ATMs are available however guests are advised to exchange money prior to arrival and to ensure you have small denominations on hand. We work with a number of hotels and resorts. Should you wish to extend your stay in Truk, the Worldwide Dive and Sail travel team will be pleased to assist you.

Climate and weather… Truk, as part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a tropical country and the climate is fairly even all year round. The average high is 30°C (86°F) whilst the average low is 25°C (77°F) throughout the year. The more humid climate is during in the summer months (Jun-Sept) whilst trade winds come mainly from the northeast between December and June.

Time zone… The local time is 10 hours ahead of UTC (GMT).

Health… Health care is readily available in the FSM and a major hospital is located within each of the states. There are no tropical diseases however to prevent stomach ailments we recommend travelers follow normal precautions with food and drink bottled water only. Please consult your doctor or nearest health care professional for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. Visitors arriving from countries which are affected by Cholera or Yellow Fever must show proof of immunization upon arrival.

Travel Advisories… All flights to Chuuk International Airport (TKK) require transit via Guam, United States. All non-US citizens must obtain a US visa or Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travel. Citizens of 37 countries, including most European nations, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are eligible for the ESTA and should apply online at least 72 hours prior to travel. An ESTA is valid for 2 years and allows for multiple entries into US territories within that period. Guests without visa or ESTA may be denied boarding.

Detailed trip information: https://pax.wwdas.com/pax_si/downloads/pdf/truk_lagoon_trip_info_sheet.pdf

Truk Hotel Options

Bikini FAQs

Whilst we have much information on our website, you may find you have additional questions about our dive liveaboard, the diving in Bikini or general location information. Below are the answers to some commonly asked questions, should you have other questions or queries, please contact our reservations team who will be pleased to assist you.

Can I dive with Nitrox? Yes. All Nitrox qualified divers may opt to dive with nitrox for an additional charge.

What should I bring with me? Liveaboard lifestyle is relaxed and informal. Essential items include T-shirts, shorts, swim wear, long trousers / sarong/ long skirt, sturdy footwear for island visits and a warm jacket or pullover for cooler nights. Shower gel is provided on board, however guests should bring any hair care or personal beauty products they require, along with sunscreen. We have a fully stocked first aid kit on board, but guests should bring any personal prescription medications with them (with doctor’s note).

Does the Truk Master have internet on board? Yes, we have Wifi high speed satellite internet available on board and offer interesting pre-booking specials.

What dive experience level is recommended for Bikini Liveaboard trips?

Diving on the Bikini wrecks is respectfully recommended for technical divers only with a minimum of PADI Tec 40 level or equivalent, with wreck experience, as the average depth of the wrecks is around 50 meters (150 ft). To get the most out of your dives in Bikini Atoll, highly recommended are:

TDI – Advanced Nitrox & Deco Procedures

IANTD – Tech Nitrox

NAUI – Tech Nitrox & Deco Techniques

ANDI – Technical Nitrox and

PADI – Tec 50

Can I rent scuba equipment whilst aboard? Yes, please let us know in advance what you would like to rent. We offer: Manifold Twin-Tanks, 80/40 cuft deco stage, pure oxygen, helium, along with sorb, which we will also need to know about in advance. Please make your inquiry during your reservation.

Must I pay National Park fees? Bikini dive permit and port fees, payable on board the boat, are: 10 nights US$500, 11 nights US$550.

I’m travelling alone. Must I pay a single supplement or may I share a cabin? For solo travelers we offer 2 options. You may choose to have a cabin for yourself for which we charge a single supplement of 100% of the cabin cost. However if you wish to share a cabin, we will place you in a twin cabin with a member of the same sex. We do not mix cabins without express permission of both guests.

How far is the departure point from Kwajalein Airport? From the airport you are shuttled to a ferry, which brings you to Ebeye Island. There you will embark the Truk Master.

Must I spend an additional night in Hawaii on either side of my liveaboard trip? We recommend guests spend an additional night on either side of their trip to ensure they are well rested for the diving ahead. Our itineraries are based on the United Airlines flight from Honolulu in Hawaii.

Do I need dive insurance? Yes. All divers travelling aboard the Truk Master must ensure they are fully covered for all diving accident and emergency situations, including coverage for air evacuation. We also strongly advise our guests to obtain comprehensive travel insurance to cover against unforeseeable delays and potential missed flight connections. A combination dive and travel insurance, which includes the option for additional liveaboard cover, may be booked through Master Liveaboards or online through DiveAssure.

Truk FAQs

Whilst we have much information on our website you may find you have additional questions about our dive liveaboard, the diving in Truk Lagoon or general location information. Below are the answers to some commonly asked questions, should you have other questions or queries, please contact our reservations team who will be pleased to assist you.

Can I dive with Nitrox? Yes. All Nitrox qualified divers may opt to dive with nitrox for an additional charge.

I am not Nitrox certified. May I take a nitrox course whilst on board? We do not currently offer any dive training courses aboard the Truk Master. For those wishing to take a nitrox certification course we recommend you contact your local dive centre or consider PADI e-learning.

Does the Truk Master have internet on board? Yes, we have Wifi high speed satellite internet available on board and offer interesting pre-booking specials.

What dive experience level is recommended for Truk Liveaboard trips? There are more than 60 wrecks in Truk Lagoon, however some of the signature sites lay beyond entry level depth limitations (18m / 60ft). Advanced level is recommended and for some wrecks deep diver (40m+) or tec-diving qualifications may be required.

Can I rent scuba equipment whilst aboard? Yes. Our standard tanks are 11L (80cf) aluminium. If you would like to get a 13L (100cf) aluminium tank (charges apply) then please let us know in advance. We also offer rental on various tanks for deco and rebreathers, along with sorb, which we will also need to know about in advance. All standard recreational diving equipment is also available for rent, again charges apply. Please make your inquiry during your reservation.

Must I pay National Park fees? There are no national park fees as such but there is a Port, permit and tax fee which is payable on board the boat: 7 nights US$195, 10 nights US$250

How far is the departure point from Weno Airport? The approximate transfer time from between Weno airport an the Truk Master is 1 hour. Roads in Chuuk are not of western standard and delays are to be expected.

Must I spend an additional night in Truk either side of my liveaboard trip? We recommend guests spend an additional night either side of their trip to ensure they are well rested for the diving ahead. All international flights arrive into Weno Island. We do advise allowing plenty of time for transfers, check-in and potential flight delays.

Master Liveaboards

Diving Truk Lagoon

Truk Liveaboard

Diving Bikini – The Marshall Islands

Schedule and Rates

Schedules for 2017

Schedules for 2018

Schedules for 2019

About Us

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