Bikini Trip

stuey

I have a trip to Bikini planned for 11 April 07 and was originally planning to do it on OC, however I will be CCR qualified by then and the owner of an inspo, and have been thinking of taking it down there.
I would appreciate any info from any of you guys who have done this trip and on the logistics of getting the unit and the lime down there.

cheers.

The Purist

There have been a few CCR trips to Bikini - as an individual going for a week the logistics are probably manageable yourself.

There's a piece on the Bikini website by Jeff Bozanic which is worth a read - with the newer aircraft at AMI (assuming they are flying that one on the day...) you can probably carry enough lime for a week with you. Top tip is to go to the AMI office on Majuro and arrange to take your excess baggage as freight. The rate is way lower than the nominal excess rate - we paid our excess in cash at the AMI desk and I reckon most of that was a 'thank you' to the ground crew

Unless things have changed on Bikini you're most likely to be using 95% ish O2 and air dil - we were able to secure some J's of He and mixed some 10/50 which I subsequently sold on to Andrew from Mad Dog Expeditions when they ran a CCR trip over there. That's probably your best bet for getting any He in your Dil, unless the folks on Bikini have changed policy.

Couple of other points - take whatever spares it will take to keep your unit going. The only Inspo on our trip failed during the 2nd week & the owner ended up diving OC.

Apart from that, have a ball!

Loneshark

Hi,
I worked Bikini last year, and we had a few Rebreather's out. Sadly they aren't geared up for rebreathers. If you are the only diver in your group with a unit, I would strongly suggest going OC, as you will not get the benefit of the extended bottom time (not having a buddy). There is no helium, other than what was left of the J that Mad dog left (next to bugger all!) Jim will not replumb the O2 booster to scavenge whats left. One customer last year looked into shipping a J of He prior to there arrival, and it was $1000!
There is some sorb on Island, but you would need to negotiate with the owners to purchase it. It is what is left over from other trips of Rebreather divers, so when I left there was probably 3 groups left overs (I should say unused, as it was still sealed) Andy Driver's Mad Dog left some, as did Dave Bouder's group, but whether that has been used this season, I don't know. You can email Jack and Lani at the office on Majuro and they will try to find out from Jim on Island. saratoga@ntamar.net
You can ship out sorb via Hawaii to majuro, and they will put it on the supply ship to Bikini in February, but if you want to do this, sort it out now, as things take forever in the Marshall's!
You will only get 95-6% O2, due to the way they make it (O2 generators) and you should be aware the balance is mostly Argon.....
So my advice is, it there are a few of you, go for it, and take spares etc, but bare in mind it will cost you a packet in extra baggage etc...(if indeed you can get it all out there due to Air Marshall Islands status on servicable aircraft...)
If you are on your own.... just take your OC gear, and relax, enjoy the wrecks.
Say Hi to Ronnie and Eddie for me!

pics and video at Loneshark Productions

Cheers
Chris
PM me if you have any further questions I can help you with.

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