Dear Team Member,
I hope this message finds you healthy and well. What a newsletter we have for you!
We have just wrapped up our first Bikini Atoll expedition of 2024 where 8 CCR divers conducted over 150 successful CCR dives on the historic wrecks of the nuclear ghost fleet.
Check out Dirty Dozen Expeditions Founder, and Expedition Leader, Aron Arngrimsson’s digital diary of the trip:
BIKINI JUNE 2024 EXPEDITION LOG
27 June 2024
All guests have arrived and are onboard. Boat orientation of our expedition vessel Pacific Master is finished and the crew and #teamdd is ready to kick off the #dirtydozen exploration season in Bikini Atoll!
Vibe is already fantastic within the team - this is going to be a great trip!
29 June 2024
LIVE FROM BIKINI ATOLL - USS SARATOGA
Aron writing here from Bikini Atoll after our first day of our Bikini Atoll 2024 season. The morning was spent doing expedition safety and diving procedures briefing followed by a check-out dive on none other than the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga.
Honestly - the team could not have asked for better conditions. The visibility was simply breathtaking. We have been diving Bikini Atoll since 2017 and I am failing to remember a day like we had today. You could see the planes that got blown off the flight deck on the bottom at 52m clear as day.
Coming out of the water I was shouting and screaming of joy almost eliciting concern from the team... is he crazy? What's the big deal?
Well... internet - can you please tell them how lucky they are!!
30 June 2024
LIVE FROM BIKINI ATOLL - USS ANDERSON
Aron writing here from Bikini Atoll after our second day of our Bikini Atoll 2024 season. The morning was spent once again with incredible visibility on USS Saratoga with our team exploring the entire wreck from the outside and.. inside!
The afternoon dive was a switch to the famous destroyer USS Anderson which was constantly on the front line of battle and served in the Solomons, Tarawa, Midway, Guadalcanal, and the Coral Sea before being blown up by a nuclear bomb in Bikini Atoll. The photos in this album are all from this wreck.
2 July 2024
LIVE FROM BIKINI - IJN NAGATO
Today the team went down to the bottom of IJN Nagato at the seabed of Bikini Atoll and did a team photoshoot by the 16" guns at the stern.
Photographing 10+ people in a location at 50m+ requires solid planning, teamwork, and execution. The photographer and expedition leader needs to plant 100,000+ lumens around the guns without silting the frame while the entire team splashes in the water with very short intervals to arrive at the bottom once he's ready.
Once the shoot begins - one team member at a time approaches the guns from behind and swims through them toward the photographer very gently - a lot harder than it sounds! There's an extensive modeling briefing beforehand to make sure we can get the best picture possible of each team member by the end of the dive.
With proper planning and execution, we managed to do everyone in one dive and Aron only had a 120-minute runtime. Success! The photo below is Didier with his wonderfully colored loop to color up this awesome image.
3 July 2024
LIVE FROM BIKINI - USS APOGON AND USS LAMSON
The night before the team watched the movie "Greyhound" after dinner which has nautical warfare featuring a destroyer and submarine. This was not accidental - as the following morning we would be diving a Balao-class submarine and Mahan-class destroyer in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll.
These were easier dives with no penetration so it was a relaxed day. Aron and crew member Tom went on photography dives, where Tom got a chance to learn to shoot advanced wreck photography.
Wreck photography is enjoyable at the worst of conditions - but in this vis. it truly is so much fun and we have had a blast working on advanced lighting techniques, constructing team-oriented shots, and having great memories to bring home at the end of it all!
5 July 2024
LIVE FROM BIKINI ATOLL - BIKINI ISLAND
Our time in Bikini is coming to an end for this team. We did our beachside barbecue on the island itself and wrapped up our last dives. Now the 30-hour crossing back to Kwajalein Atoll begins and we have our last 2 dives on none other than SMS Prinz Eugen.
7 July 2024
LIVE FROM BIKINI ATOLL - SMS PRINZ EUGEN
Spectacular last day on the SMS Prinz Eugen in Kwajalein Atoll as we wrap up the first Dirty Dozen Expeditions Bikini Atoll trip of the season!
Teams explored the outside but also the new penetration lines we installed last year with Mark Powell and James Draker.
The camaraderie, the wonderful conditions, and the excellent crew have truly made this an exceptional trip. We return back in 4 weeks for our next expedition of the season with Divesoft.
Now we have some sunset drinks, pack, and start the long journey home.
FROM THE DIVER’S MOUTH
The sheer size and scale of the WWII wrecks is breathtaking, and a little tricky to put into words. We thrive off our customer experiences. It is what DDE is all about.
#teamdd member Alejandro Dutto from the well-known club International Scuba Divers Club was on board with us, and this is his testimonial
“Every Journey Begins with a Single Step’, as the quote goes, resonates deeply with me now that my journey to the Bikini Atoll wrecks has come to an end. Why does it linger in my thoughts? After 20 years of diving and a passionate interest in World War II history, I've finally fulfilled a once-in-a-lifetime trip that perfectly combines my passions: scuba diving, wrecks, and WWII history.
Achieving this wasn't an overnight endeavor. It required countless hours of training and practice, complemented by impeccable logistics from Dirty Dozen Expeditions, resulting in undeniable success.
Returning to the quote, diving the Bikini Atoll wrecks held profound meaning for me. Every moment spent diving and training culminated in this unforgettable experience. I must stress the importance of thorough preparation for this trip. When the logistics are well-managed and all essentials like gases and safety measures are meticulously provided, it makes a world of difference. Dirty Dozen ensured our expedition was well-supported, crucial given our remote location—11 days isolated, 30 hours from the nearest inhabited land. Aron and his team made safety their priority, without overlooking comfort and everyone having the greatest time, which was evident throughout.
Lastly, I'll touch briefly on the diving itself, an experience that defies description and must be personally witnessed to be truly appreciated! We were fortunate to encounter optimal conditions while exploring this underwater museum, a privilege few have had worldwide. The wrecks, marine life, historical remnants, all intertwined to create an unforgettable adventure.
Now, onto the next step in my journey with Dirty Dozen Expeditions… Palau? Solomons? Narvik?”
Alejandro Dutto - International Scuba Divers Club - Bikini Atoll June 2024
Read more of our customer testimonials now with more reports from Solomons, Bikini Atoll, Truk Lagoon and Galapagos.
GET ME TO BIKINI ATOLL
If you are interested in joining us on a dream expedition to Bikini Atoll, check out our 2025 and 2026 dates below and reserve your spot today!
That is it for this newsletter.
We look forward to some great adventures with you in the years to come and as always, don’t forget, if you are feeling lonely, then we are here to chat Dirty
Best,
Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team