SS Thorfinn – Wreck diving in Micronesia
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Scuba diving in Truk, Micronesia
Dive the historic waters of Truk Lagoon aboard the SS Thorfinn, a liveaboard boat suitable for both recreational and technical divers. Truk Lagoon or Chuuk Lagoon consists of eleven large islands and many smaller islets within a forty-mile-wide lagoon surrounded by a protective reef. Within this reef more than 100 ships, aircraft and submarines have sunk, these silent witnesses are from the battle between the Imperial Japanese Fleet and Allied aircraft carriers during World War II.
Divers are immersed in a mysterious underwater museum, where wrecks still rest in their original state, in warm tropical waters. These historic wrecks, now enriched with an abundance of colorful corals now provide a home for beautiful tropical fish, among other things.
Besides the wreck dives, there is also the beauty of the islands surrounding the lagoon, with emerald green peaks, lush jungle and historical relics waiting to be discovered.
A diving vacation to Chuuk, Micronesia is not only a dive into the ocean, but also a dive into history.
Best travel time: Chuuk is a popular year-round and good diving destination, with warm sunny days interspersed with brief tropical showers. Annual rainfall averages 85-95 inches, unpredictably spread throughout the year after many years of measurements. Visibility in the lagoons ranges from 10 to 32 meters, at different places and times. Visibility in the open sea outside the lagoon reefs averages 60 meters.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for Truk
Dive packages
Prior to the trip, you first determine which dive package you will purchase so that upon arrival everything is perfectly prepared and you can enjoy your dives to the fullest. Standard included in this trip is the Sunrise Plan. There is a choice of the following dive packages:
E-Pack Plan: ideal for budget or divers who want to take things a little easier (discount of approx. €170 p.p.)
- 3 daily sky dives from a choice of 21 different dive sites.
- Additional fees for added E Plan purchases on board: Nitrox, EAN32 , $12 for 80 CuFt/11 l refill per tank.
Sunrise Plan: the most popular dive plan (pre-selected)
- Continuous diving up to 5 times a day if conditions/location permit, from fine 32 ft. launches.
- Free Nitrox EAN32 single cylinders.
- Optional multi-cylinders with custom blends, prices on request.
Rebreather Plan: a fully customized plan for divers without bubbles (additional cost approx. €340,- p.p.)
- Continuous daily dives within safe profiles, from fine 32 ft. dive launches.
- Free two custom rebreather cylinders filled with oxygen and air diluent.
- Free air-filled 12 l bail-out bottle, with optional oxygen on request
- Extended depth charts for groups with experienced local guide using aerial profiles.
- 20kg Sofnolime, grain 6-8, weekly per diver.
Truk Tek Unlimited : Deeper and longer dives (additional cost approx. €340,- p.p.)
- Continuous diving within safe profiles on air-filled Twins and a custom-filled Stage Cylinder to EAN50.
- Comprehensive deep technical group schedules, with local guides using air-only profiles.
Optional: Helium available upon request. (Helium should be requested at least six weeks before arrival due to the long shipping time to Truk, price on request!)
What will you experience on this trip?
View itinerary here
Day 1 to 3 - The journey to Guam
Your adventure to Truk, Micronesia begins today. You will take a long flight of about 18-20 hours via cities such as Manila, Tai-Pei or Seoul, to the beautiful island of Guam. This journey will take you through different time zones, but you will have a chance to rest and recover when you arrive in Guam. Here you will spend at least one night to recharge yourself for the remainder of the trip. Should you wish, you can easily extend your stay in Guam to explore more of this fascinating island.
Day 4 - Flight to Truk
After a good night’s sleep, fly on from Guam to Truk. In one hour and three quarters of an hour you will arrive in the morning. You will be picked up at the airport and taken to the liveaboard where you will spend the next 10 days.
The captain, dive manager and staff greet you upon arrival and proceed to the C-deck lounge for refreshments, room assignments, details on the history of Chuuk, the SS Thorfinn and various dive procedures. After reviewing the dive certificates and associated paperwork, lunch is served, the dive gear is assembled and at 2 p.m. you are on your way to the first dive site.
Day 5 to 10 - Diving, diving, diving
Your days aboard the SS Thorfinn begin early with fresh coffee, tea and pastries, followed by a full American breakfast starting at 7 a.m. After the pre-dive briefing, the first dives start at 8 a.m., with information on dive sites available in the lounge.
You have the chance to dive at the wrecks you’ve always dreamed of, such as the Nippo Maru, Shinkoko Maru, Fujikawa Maru or Heian Maru. The drive to the dive sites is usually only 10 minutes in tenders.
Truk’s war fleet and armaments are surrounded by beautiful corals and colorful fish in the warm 27-29 degree water, with visibility ranging from 10-35 meters. Your guide will help you discover the best spots, or you can choose your own adventure. Safety procedures and navigation within the wrecks are taken seriously.
You are advised to start ascending from depth with 70 bar left, stopping at 18m for 2 minutes, then at 9m for 3 minutes, and a final 10 minutes between 4 and 5m. A cylinder filled with safety air hangs at 6 meters for emergencies, and Nitrox is provided to certified users.
Night dives are offered every night that conditions permit, giving you a choice of eventually making up to five dives a day.
Day 11 & 12 - Return home
During the morning you will leave the SS Thorfin and the crew will take you to Truk airport. Vervologens you will fly back to Guam in the late afternoon where you will spend the night and continue the next day to Manila, Tai-Pei or Seoul where you will have an overnight stay. Not had enough of diving yet? Then fly via Manila and combine your diving vacation in Truk with diving in Puerto Galera or Anilao to take some more great macro photos in the Philippines.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
SS Thorfinn
The SS Thorfinn is a unique floating hotel that offers divers the treasures of Truk Lagoon. A dedicated spa deck, located behind the main guest lounge, is perfect for relaxing in the huge hot tub with views of both the southern and northern constellations.
Located at Truk Lagoon, the boat offers continuous nonstop diving, 7 days a week, with up to 5 dives a day in 5 different locations. This offers the opportunity to view more than 30 wrecks during one visit.
The large staff provides cheerful, personalized service based on a 1-to-1 crew-to-guest ratio. This ranges from individual dive staff catering to each diver’s needs, full-time hostesses, maintenance staff and chefs preparing various tasty international dishes. Special dietary requests are catered for when available from local vendors.
Relax from the beautiful wreck dives in one of the ten staterooms. The air-conditioned staterooms can accommodate 20 guests in double occupancy. All rooms have a sink, TV and DVD player, indirect lighting and full-length closets. Eight rooms on the ‘D’ and ‘E’ decks have double or queen beds plus adjoining single beds. Each of these rooms has a private shower and toilet. Three additional rooms on deck ‘C’ are bright and spacious with two shared shower rooms and two shared toilets. They are pretty basic rooms, but you won’t spend much time there either if all goes well.
Thors Lair: If you go with your partner and are still looking for a little more luxury, Thors Lair is also available. Thor’s Lair is an exclusive luxury suite created from two former main deck cabins, featuring a huge king-size bed, adjoining sofa bed, 44-inch TV monitor/player, PC table/chair, carpeted walls, 4 view windows, walk-in closet, bar fridge, bedside lighting controls and a large shower/toilet area. It is available for a small premium over normal rates.
Travel costs
What is included
This travel package is €2440 per person based on two people in one stateroom. The trip can be extended as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about the possibilities? Get in touch with us!
Included in this trip, from €2440 p.p.
- 7 nights in a stateroom
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers airport Truk
- Dive Package: Sunrise Plan
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flights to Truk, via Guam
- Overnight stay on Guam outward journey
- Overnight on Guam return
- Dive permit Truk (valid for one year)
- approx. €1400,- p.p.
- approx. €150,- p.n.
- approx. €150,- p.n.
- $50.00 p.p.
Optional
- Downgrade to E-Pack Plan
- Upgrade to Rebreather Plan
- Upgrade to Truk Tek Unlimited
- - €170,- p.p.
- + €340 p.p.
- + €340 p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving general
Wreck diving from the boat, this can be done as a recreational diver as well as a technical diver.
Approximately a 10-minute boat ride from the SS Thorfinn
Includes the night dive, up to 5.
Yes definitely, weather permitting, night dives are offered every dive day.
Yes, you can get your PADI Open Water (first dive certification), PADI AOW and PADI Rescue here. You can also do different specialty’s according to such as; Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Wreck. Some technical training can also be offered upon request.
Diving equipment
Yes, additional price for the week is $60.00 or $12.00 per day +6% sales tax.
Nitrox is free in the Sunrise Plan. Should you choose to downgrade to the E-Pack plan you will pay an additional $12.00 per tank +6% sales tax.
A full dive set costs $200 per week, excluding computer a $75 per week and dive light €50 per week. + 6% sales tax.
Liveaboard
Cabins with en-suite: 3,4,5,6,7,8 & Thors Lair
Cabins without en-suite: 9,10 & 11
The cabins are air-conditioned.
No, you don’t have to, for a surcharge of approx. $500, a single cabin can be booked.
The dives are from tenders (smaller dive boats).
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