BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go?

petemes · 29th August 2008, 00:26

I was just looking into organising a trip to Bikini and just wanted to "test the waters" With no airline or boats operating in the area I will be chartering a 70m ship and sailing it to Majuro from New Zealand. This will be a rebreather only trip as the logistics alone for breathers are bad enough. Will be shipping over a ton of sorb, buying 30 sets of breather tanks, organising over 150m3 of O2, Helium, 2 x compressors, 70 deco tanks, 5 tenders to dive off, recompression chamber on board, hyperbaric physician and chamber operator etc. So basically all you have to do is just turn up with your breather and personal gear.
Will look at basing out of Majuro where people will fly in. It is 430nmiles to Bikini which will take a little over 24 hours steaming there and the same back. 14 days diving the wrecks, then back.

I have costed it out to be us$10K ex Majuro.
includes:
all travel too and from Bikini return to Majuro
all diving
all food
all accom
all tank hire (deco and breather tanks)

extras:
flights to Majuro (marshall Islands)
sorb $13/kg
O2 ($0.04c/l)
Helium ($0.16c/l)

I really look forward to any comments, serious voices of interest. Something of this magnitude is only dooable if people think there is value in spending the money!! for the sheer fact that we will be accommodating 30 breather divers with full breather support.

There will be two chefs on board the vessell with 23 russian ships crew and about 15 dive crew.

Time of year to go? TBC But might be round mid march to july. 2009.

So is there anyone out there keen?????

If you are please can you email me on info@petemesley.com and send me some details of yourself. many thanks.

Pete
Dive T.E.C. main home page

doug allen · 29th August 2008, 01:25

Count me In....

Doug Allen
336-672-1035, ext 237

cramerdn · 29th August 2008, 01:29

That's not really a bad price. The Bikini folks were looking at almost $3000 for a week plus airfare from Majuro to Bikini. So for two weeks this is really only about a 140% price increase, which considering you get chamber access isn't too bad.

I would rather have a single price that includes sorb and gas. It seams hard to imagine an extra flat fee for consumables will be that much extra compared to the overall cost.

Well I guess what I would really like is to have the 10 kilobucks that would allow me to worry about it.

So for any gear manufacturers out there, the space on my yellow box is availble for sponser's logos, for a nominal fee.

cramerdn · 29th August 2008, 01:32

What's the non diver price ?

sensor330 · 29th August 2008, 02:57

Quote: (Originally Posted by petemes)

I was just looking into organising a trip to Bikini and just wanted to "test the waters" With no airline or boats operating in the area I will be chartering a 70m ship and sailing it to Majuro from New Zealand. This will be a rebreather only trip as the logistics alone for breathers are bad enough. Will be shipping over a ton of sorb, buying 30 sets of breather tanks, organising over 150m3 of O2, Helium, 2 x compressors, 70 deco tanks, 5 tenders to dive off, recompression chamber on board, hyperbaric physician and chamber operator etc. So basically all you have to do is just turn up with your breather and personal gear.
Will look at basing out of Majuro where people will fly in. It is 430nmiles to Bikini which will take a little over 24 hours steaming there and the same back. 14 days diving the wrecks, then back.

I have costed it out to be us$10K ex Majuro.
includes:
all travel too and from Bikini return to Majuro
all diving
all food
all accom
all tank hire (deco and breather tanks)

extras:
flights to Majuro (marshall Islands)
sorb $13/kg
O2 ($0.04c/l)
Helium ($0.16c/l)

I really look forward to any comments, serious voices of interest. Something of this magnitude is only dooable if people think there is value in spending the money!! for the sheer fact that we will be accommodating 30 breather divers with full breather support.

There will be two chefs on board the vessell with 23 russian ships crew and about 15 dive crew.

Time of year to go? TBC But might be round mid march to july. 2009.

So is there anyone out there keen?????

Pete
Dive T.E.C. main home page

Is that 10K to hire the boat or 10K/person?

petemes · 29th August 2008, 02:59

Quote: (Originally Posted by cramerdn)

That's not really a bad price. The Bikini folks were looking at almost $3000 for a week plus airfare from Majuro to Bikini. So for two weeks this is really only about a 140% price increase, which considering you get chamber access isn't too bad.

I would rather have a single price that includes sorb and gas. It seams hard to imagine an extra flat fee for consumables will be that much extra compared to the overall cost.

Well I guess what I would really like is to have the 10 kilobucks that would allow me to worry about it.

So for any gear manufacturers out there, the space on my yellow box is availble for sponser's logos, for a nominal fee.

I guess we could work out a single cost for consumables - one fill a day 14 days = X amount of sorb, but then with the per rata idea you only pay for what you use.
Finding the money isnt normally the challenge - its paying it back that causes the headaches!!!

Pete

petemes · 29th August 2008, 03:02

Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330)

Is that 10K to hire the boat or 10K/person?

Thanks mate, I havent laughed that hard in ages! Just to clarify. its $10,000.00 per person for 14 days diving.

Pete

zoo_diver · 29th August 2008, 03:12

my cheese must really stink because 10k is a loud of change! 14 days is a good run though. do read that to be 14 diving days or a 14 day total trip?

petemes · 29th August 2008, 03:20

Quote: (Originally Posted by zoo_diver)

my cheese must really stink because 10k is a loud of change! 14 days is a good run though. do read that to be 14 diving days or a 14 day total trip?

Yeah its not the cheapest way to get to Bikini! but we are totally prepared for breather divers. You will be fed well, dive hard, and have the best time.
This is 14 days diving. SO round 18 days in total! good time to work on your tan on the way back.

Pete

netmage · 29th August 2008, 04:47

Quote: (Originally Posted by zoo_diver)

my cheese must really stink because 10k is a loud of change! 14 days is a good run though. do read that to be 14 diving days or a 14 day total trip?

By comparison, a two week trip to Bikini and Truk was ~10K, figure a travel day or two around it as well... this was 2 years ago...

Tack on another grand or two for the flight to Majuro, and it's in the vicinity of expectations...

I'm wondering how they're going to address the guide situation.... historically all OC... because I doubt the local gov't would simply let 30 'breathers off to do their own thing unsupervised....

Most people need a year or two to pull together a trip of this magnatude, in $$$ and saved vaca.... if your going to travel half way around the globe, might as well pull all the stops out and spend the quality time....

I'd be interested in a future trip... 09 is just aggressive for me...

-Tim

29th August 2008, 00:26	#1 (permalink)
petemes New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 53	BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? I was just looking into organising a trip to Bikini and just wanted to "test the waters" With no airline or boats operating in the area I will be chartering a 70m ship and sailing it to Majuro from New Zealand. This will be a rebreather only trip as the logistics alone for breathers are bad enough. Will be shipping over a ton of sorb, buying 30 sets of breather tanks, organising over 150m3 of O2, Helium, 2 x compressors, 70 deco tanks, 5 tenders to dive off, recompression chamber on board, hyperbaric physician and chamber operator etc. So basically all you have to do is just turn up with your breather and personal gear. Will look at basing out of Majuro where people will fly in. It is 430nmiles to Bikini which will take a little over 24 hours steaming there and the same back. 14 days diving the wrecks, then back. I have costed it out to be us$10K ex Majuro. includes: all travel too and from Bikini return to Majuro all diving all food all accom all tank hire (deco and breather tanks) extras: flights to Majuro (marshall Islands) sorb $13/kg O2 ($0.04c/l) Helium ($0.16c/l) I really look forward to any comments, serious voices of interest. Something of this magnitude is only dooable if people think there is value in spending the money!! for the sheer fact that we will be accommodating 30 breather divers with full breather support. There will be two chefs on board the vessell with 23 russian ships crew and about 15 dive crew. Time of year to go? TBC But might be round mid march to july. 2009. So is there anyone out there keen????? If you are please can you email me on info@petemesley.com and send me some details of yourself. many thanks. Pete Dive T.E.C. main home page __________________ "A little less talk a little more action" Elvis Presley Last edited by petemes : 30th August 2008 at 00:58. Reason: update info
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29th August 2008, 01:25	#2 (permalink)
doug allen New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Optima Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Asheboro, NC Posts: 32	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? Count me In.... Doug Allen 336-672-1035, ext 237
(Offline)

29th August 2008, 01:29	#3 (permalink)
cramerdn Obey my dog! Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Townsville QLD Posts: 730	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? That's not really a bad price. The Bikini folks were looking at almost $3000 for a week plus airfare from Majuro to Bikini. So for two weeks this is really only about a 140% price increase, which considering you get chamber access isn't too bad. I would rather have a single price that includes sorb and gas. It seams hard to imagine an extra flat fee for consumables will be that much extra compared to the overall cost. Well I guess what I would really like is to have the 10 kilobucks that would allow me to worry about it. So for any gear manufacturers out there, the space on my yellow box is availble for sponser's logos, for a nominal fee. __________________ "Its better to live one day as a tiger than an entire life as a worm." "But who's ever heard of a worm skin rug?"
(Online)

29th August 2008, 01:32	#4 (permalink)
cramerdn Obey my dog! Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Townsville QLD Posts: 730	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? What's the non diver price ? __________________ "Its better to live one day as a tiger than an entire life as a worm." "But who's ever heard of a worm skin rug?"
(Online)

29th August 2008, 02:57	#5 (permalink)
sensor330 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 594	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? Quote: (Originally Posted by petemes) I was just looking into organising a trip to Bikini and just wanted to "test the waters" With no airline or boats operating in the area I will be chartering a 70m ship and sailing it to Majuro from New Zealand. This will be a rebreather only trip as the logistics alone for breathers are bad enough. Will be shipping over a ton of sorb, buying 30 sets of breather tanks, organising over 150m3 of O2, Helium, 2 x compressors, 70 deco tanks, 5 tenders to dive off, recompression chamber on board, hyperbaric physician and chamber operator etc. So basically all you have to do is just turn up with your breather and personal gear. Will look at basing out of Majuro where people will fly in. It is 430nmiles to Bikini which will take a little over 24 hours steaming there and the same back. 14 days diving the wrecks, then back. I have costed it out to be us$10K ex Majuro. includes: all travel too and from Bikini return to Majuro all diving all food all accom all tank hire (deco and breather tanks) extras: flights to Majuro (marshall Islands) sorb $13/kg O2 ($0.04c/l) Helium ($0.16c/l) I really look forward to any comments, serious voices of interest. Something of this magnitude is only dooable if people think there is value in spending the money!! for the sheer fact that we will be accommodating 30 breather divers with full breather support. There will be two chefs on board the vessell with 23 russian ships crew and about 15 dive crew. Time of year to go? TBC But might be round mid march to july. 2009. So is there anyone out there keen????? Pete Dive T.E.C. main home page Is that 10K to hire the boat or 10K/person? __________________ Scott Ensor
(Offline)

29th August 2008, 02:59	#6 (permalink)
petemes New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 53	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? Quote: (Originally Posted by cramerdn) That's not really a bad price. The Bikini folks were looking at almost $3000 for a week plus airfare from Majuro to Bikini. So for two weeks this is really only about a 140% price increase, which considering you get chamber access isn't too bad. I would rather have a single price that includes sorb and gas. It seams hard to imagine an extra flat fee for consumables will be that much extra compared to the overall cost. Well I guess what I would really like is to have the 10 kilobucks that would allow me to worry about it. So for any gear manufacturers out there, the space on my yellow box is availble for sponser's logos, for a nominal fee. I guess we could work out a single cost for consumables - one fill a day 14 days = X amount of sorb, but then with the per rata idea you only pay for what you use. Finding the money isnt normally the challenge - its paying it back that causes the headaches!!! Pete __________________ "A little less talk a little more action" Elvis Presley
(Offline)

29th August 2008, 03:02	#7 (permalink)
petemes New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 53	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? Quote: (Originally Posted by sensor330) Is that 10K to hire the boat or 10K/person? Thanks mate, I havent laughed that hard in ages! Just to clarify. its $10,000.00 per person for 14 days diving. Pete __________________ "A little less talk a little more action" Elvis Presley
(Offline)

29th August 2008, 03:12	#8 (permalink)
zoo_diver Is it snack time yet? Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Suffolk, VA Posts: 259	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? my cheese must really stink because 10k is a loud of change! 14 days is a good run though. do read that to be 14 diving days or a 14 day total trip?
(Offline)

29th August 2008, 03:20	#9 (permalink)
petemes New Member Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 53	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? Quote: (Originally Posted by zoo_diver) my cheese must really stink because 10k is a loud of change! 14 days is a good run though. do read that to be 14 diving days or a 14 day total trip? Yeah its not the cheapest way to get to Bikini! but we are totally prepared for breather divers. You will be fed well, dive hard, and have the best time. This is 14 days diving. SO round 18 days in total! good time to work on your tan on the way back. Pete __________________ "A little less talk a little more action" Elvis Presley
(Offline)

29th August 2008, 04:47	#10 (permalink)
netmage Tim Owens Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Coconut Creek, FL Posts: 700	Re: BIKINI Atoll - How bad do you want to go? Quote: (Originally Posted by zoo_diver) my cheese must really stink because 10k is a loud of change! 14 days is a good run though. do read that to be 14 diving days or a 14 day total trip? By comparison, a two week trip to Bikini and Truk was ~10K, figure a travel day or two around it as well... this was 2 years ago... Tack on another grand or two for the flight to Majuro, and it's in the vicinity of expectations... I'm wondering how they're going to address the guide situation.... historically all OC... because I doubt the local gov't would simply let 30 'breathers off to do their own thing unsupervised.... Most people need a year or two to pull together a trip of this magnatude, in $$$ and saved vaca.... if your going to travel half way around the globe, might as well pull all the stops out and spend the quality time.... I'd be interested in a future trip... 09 is just aggressive for me... -Tim
(Offline)

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