Trip Preparation Bulletin The full enjoyment
of your trip with us is our total objective, and the following information has
been gathered to assist in this goal.
Read carefully, and please contact
us for any clarifications needed. Keep us informed with current addresses, phone
numbers and 'E' mail to enable our contacting you on any items of last minute
information.
DIVING CONDITIONS:
Micronesia began developing
as a dive destination about 25 years ago with the fame of Truk Lagoon's sunken
war fleet. The Thorfinn introduced a new approach to diving Truk about 1982 and
bridged the gap to remote and beautiful outer island atolls of Truk, Yap, and
Pohnpei States.
These undived virgin atoll reefs provided a kaleidoscope
of seldom seen species of fish, sharks, and coral in incredibly clear and warm
waters.
At Truk, this ship introduced the ability to continuously dive
on wrecks located close to various anchorages. Four dive launches depart regularly
from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and conduct night dives about 8:30 PM.
The ship
provides comforts of a large hotel at the wreck sites with many interesting on
board diversions during surface intervals.
Visibility on Truk wrecks can
vary from 40 -100 feet depending on location and prevailing conditions. Strong
emphasis applies to all wrecks in Truk Lagoon being designated as historic monuments
within a park area.
Trukese law forbids disturbance or removal of artifacts
from these magnificent relics of war.
FACILITIES AND COMFORTS ABOARD
THE S.S. THORFINN:
The Thorfinn provides fine live aboard accommodations,
and the entire ship's crew strive to maintain these standards.
This remote
location is occasionally strained for some supplies due to shipping delays and
other unforeseeable events.
We have an advance ordering system for imports
of meats, and other dry goods, and local growers are meeting many of our produce
requirements. Please realize that some popular food items may not be available.
The ship's facilities, diving gear, boats, and compressors are well maintained
and designed to suit the demanding conditions of this remote location.
Eleven
tastefully furnished guest rooms are equipped for two person occupancy. Nine have
large double beds with adjacent single berths. Room 11 has two single berths,
Room 1 has settee and one double bed. Eight rooms have private facilities, with
three others sharing adjacent semi-private twin showers and toilets.
Space
is our specialty.
A large 'C' deck guest lounge, separate dining rooms seating
everyone, spa deck, sun deck with shade awning, camera service tables adjacent
to lounge, and large deck areas of the most stable ship in the trade add to guest
comforts and conveniences.
Over 800 video and music CDs and DVDs are available
from main lounge libraries to serve in each guest room's TV/VCR/DVD player.
A
main lounge theater sized hi-def plasma TV feeds into a six speaker surround system.
Multi-system VHS and DVD players cover wide ranging inputs, and a convenient plug-in
point permits direct inputs from all guest data supplied equipment.
WEATHER
CONDITIONS:
Moderate Tropical Temperatures:
Our female guests are advised
to include a mid length skirt in their clothing. It will provide the most comfort
for shore visits, especially on traditional outer islands (see Customs and Conduct).
PHOTOGRAPHY:
These waters provide very fine underwater photography.
Bring all film, strobes, and cameras needed along with back-ups.
A big
multi-system Plasma TV monitor with VHS video and DVD player is in the lounge
for instant playback of your video footage.
Each guest room is also fitted
with a multi-system TV/VCR adn DVD for personal use.
DIVING EQUIPMENT:
Regulator, masks, fins, snorkel (extra straps for all), submersible
pressure and depth gauges, wet suit (if desired), dive light (extra batteries),
chemical light tubes (for night dives), and repair kit are the divers' responsibility,
with a limited rental supply of most items aboard.
Tanks, backpacks, weights,
and weightbelts are provided on the vessel.
Light wet suits are optional
in the 85 deg F (29 C) water, but do provide protection against coral and abrasions
on the wrecks.
It is highly recommended to have critical equipment serviced
and checked by a reputable service facility with emphasis on first and second
stages of your regulators, hoses and gauges.
A supply of "O" rings and
a check of your B.C. is also recommended. It is most distressing to have people
arrive at this distant destination and then lose valuable dive time over malfunctioning
equipment.
A limited rental supply of most gear except suits is available.
Dive lights are UK400 with 4 'D' cell batteries.
DIVING PROCEDURES:
Wreck diving under auspices of expert Trukese guides is conducted by
mooring our dive launches to wreck sites with divers proceeding up and down anchor
or buoy lines.
Personal dive gear bags supplied from ship are given to
dive boat staff for valet type service with gear mounted and removed before and
after each dive. Bags are stowed in under-seat gear lockers of new dive launches,
or in bins aft on mother ship. Whether moored or drift diving on reefs and at
passes, expert dive guides will assist or lead divers while explaining and showing
a site's key interests. Further diving details are given under heading of Virtual
Dive procedures at Menu Page.
Most regular diving is done on a no decompression
basis, with mandatory stops at certain ascent points to assist in your safety.Technical
divers are welcome to request extended deep or other considerations with Nitrox
use. A privately maintained double lock recompression chamber/facility is available
at Chuuk, and low cost DAN or PADI dive insurance is highly recommended to offset
any fees assessed with a treatment.
The divemaster will oversee and profile
each diver to keep track of their daily dive records. We ask everyone to record
accurate bottom times and depths on our lounge log board after each dive.
The
'computer revolution' has increased safe diving limits, however as computers occasionally
fail, we work to U. S. Navy Dive Tables for determining final safety factors.
Night divers should bring a sufficient supply of chemical lights (cylume
sticks) and suitable dive lights and batteries. Spear fishing is not permitted.
Truk dive permits and related costs of $35.00 per person will be assessed
onboard and is not included in your package.
BAGGAGE:
Baggage
insurance is highly recommended, and we recommend keeping critical items such
as camera, regulator, mask, with you in a flight bag.
Clothing and dive
gear is best packed in soft bags or duffel bags for onboard stowage. Please tag
bags with your name, address and phone number in case of mishandling, and for
easy onboard room placement by crew.
We advise claiming and checking baggage
at any transfer points or stopovers enroute to follow its advance and add assurance
of its arrival at final destination.
Remember standard baggage allowance
is two pieces of checked luggage plus one carry-on bag. A check with air carrier
for applicable charges on extra gear may be helpful.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS:
There are no current official requirements for vaccinations or inoculations,
but you may wish to check with your doctor about any specific need.
Micronesia
has very little pest or insect problems for a tropic location, but carry some
antidotes for infections from light coral cuts and scratches.
Ear infections
are easily contracted in warm waters and a vial of Ear Eze or equivalent for dropping
in each ear at end of daily diving activities is highly recommended.
Sunburn
can represent a great health risk and does require careful attention if you have
not been exposed to the sun for some time prior to your trip with us. A good sunblock
followed later with tanning oils is most helpful.
INSURANCE:
Every
effort is made to assure a safe trip, but the purchase of a short-term trip cancellation
policy, in case of unexpected changes in your plan is wise.
Low cost D.A.N.
dive insurance is highly recommended for exposures in a distant location.
Also recommended is accident, medical, and baggage insurance.
CUSTOMS
AND CONDUCT:
In order to preserve the warm welcome given to visitors
at low-keyed islands of the Pacific, an insight of their customs will be helpful
in making the most of your opportunity for cultural interaction.
Common
sense can guide you much of the time but the following is a guide as to what to
expect. Pacific islanders by nature are soft-spoken and reserved in their personal
manner and it is recommended that a like conduct be displayed in their presence.
Do not appear unexpectedly in a village or gathering. Have a local person
introduce you to the ranking chief and other prominent villagers.
Exposing
the thighs is considered improper for females, therefore, skirts are recommended
for shore visits. Onboard dress is casual and unrestricted.
During shore
excursions, the Captain will arrange the formalities of introductions. In keeping
with traditions of the island group, visitors may be asked not to walk in a particular
part of the island or dive and fish in a particular area adjacent to the island,
which we ask all guests to respect.
Visitors will delight in the warmth
of the people and the gentle displays of friendship exhibited by offerings of
coconuts and fruits and offers of a walking tour of their island. Please do not
pick your own fruits unsolicited, as you may be trespassing. When encountering
domestic scenes, ask for permission before taking pictures.
The people
will be most cooperative but it could be found offensive to shoot without first
asking. On the other hand, don't be surprised by people, especially the children,
offering to be photographed and it is expected that pictures will be taken during
performances by the islanders for their visitors.
Polaroid pictures left
as souvenirs with the people are a big hit as with any small token such as soap,
needles, combs, candies, fishing tackle, etc. are very much appreciated.
Enterprising islanders will display handicrafts and shell for exchange or sale.
You will be delighted by young children whose natural curiosity will overtake
their shyness to exchange stories and questions, often punctuated with fits of
giggles.
Micronesians will not show open disapproval if you violate their
social codes so we ask our guests to keep in mind this simple guide for the mutual
benefit of a cultural exchange.
CURRENCY:
The U.S. dollar
is the currency standard.
BANKS:
Two banks operate within
the Federated States of Micronesia and provide most regular services.
In
Truk:
Our office staff and/or
crew will greet your arrival at airport and take you to a nearby pier (in our
10 seat van) where a dive boat will be waiting for final transfer to the anchored
ship. This trip is repeated in reverse at trip end.
Guests arriving from
Truk Blue Lagoon Resort or Truk Stop Hotel, will usually be transferred from their
respective hotel piers via launch directly to ship. It is advised to contact ship
by telephone in advance to coordinate this service.
Guests
arriving from other hotels will be met by our shore staff for transfer to designated
pier for boat transfer to ship.
