story@calma.UUCP (Glen Story) (03/02/86)
The following is a summary I wrote about some diving I did in
Micronesia last autumn. I am also posting a longer article separately
with more details.
Summary of Diving in Truk
HOTEL: Continental Truk. Run by Continental Air Lines. Air-
conditioned rooms. There is one restaurant--a little expensive
and only fair quality. Although I had thought that diving
included lunch, it didn't, so one has to order a box lunch from
the restaurant.
Cost: Room: $72/day
Breakfast: $5
Lunch: $8 (box lunch)
Dinner $10-15
Address: Truk Continental Hotel
P.O. Box 340
Moen Island, Truk
Eastern Caroline Islands 96942
USA
DIVING: I used Blue Lagoon Dive Shop. They were suggested by
the hotel. I went with the owner's son, "Ken". The owner is
Kimmiou. The diving we did was all on wrecks of Japanese World
War II naval vessels. There is also reef diving but the wrecks
are what make Truk unique and there's as much (if not more)
marine life on the wrecks as the reefs. Ken was a knowledgeable
and competent guide. He often violated some NASDS safety rules,
such as diving below 100 ft. or planning to do decompression
dives, but he never exceeded any dive-table limits, and in fact
we usually doubled the recommended ten-foot decompression time. I
never felt unsafe on any of the dives--and it's the only way to
see many of the most interesting wrecks, since they are rather
deep. However, one has to keep one's own counsel on diving
safety. The guides seem agreeable to whatever risks one wants to
take.
Cost: $65-75/day
For two dives + boat + tanks + air + guide
He actually charged me $180 for three days.
Address: Blue Lagoon Dive Shop
P. O. Box 429
Moen Island, Truk
Eastern Caroline Islands 96942
USA
Attention: Kimmiou Aisek
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Summary of Diving in Pohnipei
HOTEL: The Village. Staying here is an adventure in itself!
Each room is a native-architecture grass-roofed hut built on
stilts. There is no glass in the windows, only screens. Air
conditioning is provided by the sea breezes. But it's not all
primitive: each room has a smooth hardwood floor, showers with
hot and cold running water, modern toilet facilities, and two
waterbeds. The restaurant is gourmet quality. And the owners,
Bob and Patti Arthur give each guest personal attention. Fantas-
tic!
Cost: Room: $57.50/day
Meals: $25/day
Address: The Village
P.O. Box 339
Ponape
Eastern Caroline Islands 96941
USA
or
Panorama International, Inc.
KT Bldg
5-11-15 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan
DIVING: Through the hotel. The guides provided by the hotel
were very knowledgable and helpful. Unlike in Truk, there is a
good level of safety consciousness here, both in the guides and
in the hotel people. I did less diving here than I would have
liked, because there were other things to do and we had only
limited time. Still, the diving I did was excellent.
Cost: $45/day
two dives, tanks + air + boat + guide
$30 additional if you are the only diver
Same costs for one night dive
Address: Same as above