🛩️🛄 Insiders Guide Traveling To Truk Lagoon And Bikini Atoll

Dear Dirty Dozen Team Member,

It is time we return to a very popular blog post we covered last year and expand on it as the 2021 Truk and Bikini season gets closer and a lot of the DDE team members are already planning their wreck pilgrimage.

The mere mention of dive trip logistics can make even the most organized explorer sweat. We understand, so don’t panic. Getting to the other side of the world to join us on your trip of a lifetime does not have to be a nightmare, quite the opposite in fact.

Check out our summary of the most frequently asked questions below, with links at the bottom to read more so your travel is as we like it, totally seamless.

Q: I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO PACK. HELP!

It’s no secret, technical diving is as gear-intensive as it gets. If you’re packing for Truk Lagoon or Bikini Atoll — some of the remotest diving destinations in the world — you want to have all your essentials with you. Add a sophisticated underwater camera setup and an advanced life-support system, and you have a recipe for sleepless nights wondering just how much you can stretch the bounds of your luggage allowance.

That’s why we have made our bulletproof checklist in co-operation with Richard Lundgren, Jill Heinerth and Adam Hanlon. And you can forget about the hairdryer. (We’ve got one onboard!). We also try and organize rebreathers spares between divers that have the same units before departure.

Download Checklist here

Download checklist HERE

Q: HOW DO I GET THERE?!

truk Lagoon, Micronesia

You can fly to Chuuk (TKK) from either Guam, Hawaii, or Port Moresby, depending on where you are in the world. Flying from Mainland USA, Seoul, Tokyo or Manila will get you to these travel hubs.

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

You can fly to Kwajalein (KWA) from either Guam or Hawaii through the travel hubs mentioned above.

UNITED AIRLINES

A Star Alliance member, United serves both these destinations exclusively from Guam (GUM) and Hawaii (HNL) on the famous island hopper and the route is served 4-5 times per week. These is probably the longest flight legs you have ever taken, so we highly recommend arriving 2 days before the trip starts or do a stopover in Guam or Hawaii.

Take advantage of free flex tickets

Usually, there is a hefty fee on booking flexible airfares. In these extraordinary times, United has no change fees on new bookings and we highly recommend taking advantage of it for peace of mind.

Q: DO I NEED A VISA?!

VISA RULES

For most visitors, a free 30-day tourist visa is granted on arrival in Micronesia and Marshall Islands, which can be extended for up to 90 days.

US citizens can stay for one year.

Passports should be valid for 120 days prior to the departure date and guests must have proof of onward travel before they arrive.

ESTA

It’s important that you have the necessary VISA arrangements sorted out before you travel as you most likely will need an ESTA or a US Visa if you are not American while transiting through Guam and Hawaii because they are both parts of the US.

Q: I HAVE 70kg of LUGGAGE. HELP!?

United allows up to three 32 kg bags when traveling to either destination, depending on your status within Star Alliance and your departure city. If you are not a member of Star Alliance, look at your reservation for terms and conditions regarding your luggage. When traveling with a different airline, you must check their baggage allowance guidelines.

Q: I arrived EARLY. NOW WHAT?!

Its hardly surprising there is not a long list of apartments and chain hotels waiting for you while typing in “Kwajalein” on Booking.com. In Truk, we recommend the 3 hotels below, with the first 2 offering diving on-site.

Blue Lagoon Resort

+(691) 330 2439

blresort@mail.fm

www.bluelagoondiveresort.com

Truk Stop Hotel and DIve Centre

diveshop@dive-truklagoon.com

info@dive-truklagoon.com

www.dive-truklagoon.com

L5 Hotel

+(691) 330-7048/7049

admin@l5hotel.fm

www.l5hotel.fm

Getting to Bikini Atoll however, it a different story. As you land on Kwajalein Island when entering the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein is an U.S Army base, and they will waste no time escorting you to the ferry terminal from the airport where you will be promptly shipped to the neighbouring island of Ebeye until you get picked up by our boat. There is only one hotel, Hotel Ebeye.

Hotel Ebeye

Telephone: 692-329-5230

email: hotelebeye@yahoo.com

Persistence is key to securing your reservation as they are infamous for not replying, and it is the only hotel.

Cash is king in both destinations, bring plenty of American dollars as the ATMs rarely work. Bigger hotels will accept credit card payments and our expedition vessel does too.

Q: WHY ARRIVE EARLY IN KWAJALEIN/EBEYE?

This is not our first rodeo! DDE has learned from experience and we have a few tips that will help you ease into your expedition in a relaxed manner.

We recommend starting your long-awaited dream holiday jetlag free and ready for action. There are plenty of high-end chain hotels in Guam or Hawaii to recover the time difference two days early if you are going to Truk.

If you are heading onto Bikini then lace up your expedition boots and aim to arrive in Kwajalein two days ahead of ropes off to avoid a catastrophic luggage disaster.

As United’s island hopper makes up to five stops along the way, there is a tiny chance your luggage might not make it off the plane as ground staff can miss things in quick turnarounds if luggage has shifted during flight.

The boat won’t wait for you if it happens and you arrive same day of departure, and I am sure you did not plan to dive Bikini with half a rebreather and a rented wetsuit.

Hot Tip: Labelling your luggage with the airport code TKK for Truk and KWA for Bikini Atoll in VERY BIG WATERPROOF LETTERS and tracking your luggage on the handy UNITED App.

Health Considerations

Vaccinations may be required before entering the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, check with your local clinic for the latest advice on how to stay safe during your trip. If you are traveling from a Yellow Fever area, proof of immunization might be required. It’s recommended that tetanus immunizations are also up to date before traveling.

Truk and Bikini are malaria-free zones and mosquitoes are not a problem on the boat. But they can be annoying onshore, so consider bringing insect repellent. The Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses have all been reported in the Marshalls and are spread by mosquitoes.

Ready For A Splash?

Once on board, settled, and ready to crush some awesome dives there is one more list you need to be familiar with. Predive safety checks, dive deck checks, and final checks are a crucial part of our safety protocol here at DDE.

Check out DD Special Guest Jill Heinerth running through our dive platform Splash checklist in the video below.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Q: Is my booking protected in the time of COVID?

The DDE team aims to give you clear, simple information about the protection of your booking. We pride ourselves on being direct, and we understand that sometimes plans have to change.

We have been upfront with you about having to cancel the 2020 Bikini season due to COVID, and also our efficient handling of the situation. All our guests have been contacted and rebooked onto charters leaving from 2021 so no one has been left at home.

Understand your rights and check out our partner Bo2´s Terms and Conditions and Coronavirus clauses. Blue O Two also, in the interest of customer satisfaction and financial protection has AVS booking protection insurance. Read more here

Closing Statement

OK team, we know this was a lengthy one but it’s an important topic for a successful expedition. We will load you up with even more insider info about how to navigate a successful globe crossing in our FB groups, group emails etc... We are here for you 24/7 before, during and after your trip of a lifetime!

And of course all the topics we have covered so far are detailed on:

https://thedirtydozenexpeditions.com/info-truk-lagoon

https://thedirtydozenexpeditions.com/travel-information-bikini-atoll

Share this blog with your wreck diving friends: https://thedirtydozenexpeditions.com/blog/insider-guide-to-truklagoon-bikiniatoll

DDE TEAM TOP TIP:

Our last hot tip, perhaps our hottest tip we can offer you, has to do with Aron. His idea of an orderly cabin has a lot to be desired and he sleeps on CCR parts. Whatever you do, don’t share a cabin with this donkey!

I hope you all had a great week and have some fun plans this weekend. If not, or even if you do, don’t forget, if you feel lonely at any point, we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team

🛳🧼 Clean Living Aboard

Descending to wreck paradise from Truk Master

Hey Dirty Dozen Team Member.

We hope you are well and heading off to enjoy some adventures this weekend.

Dirty Dozen prides itself on the exceptional service our guests receive when they join us on board our boats.  Initially when we started DDE we set out to create luxury expeditions for divers who wanted to go that little bit further. We wanted produce perfectly curated, adventurous, off the beaten track holidays that are not your ordinary dive trip.  And we succeeded.  With epic destinations, expedition vessels built by technical divers and extraordinary Special Guest lineups, you have the chance to dive alongside your diving hero in style. 

USS Anderson in Bikini Atoll

Ahead of the curve

Due to our considered approach we have unknowingly been practicing socially distant procedures on board Truk Master since our first expedition.  With spacious boats made for 16 clients and our running capacity capped at 12, there is plenty of room to kit up, relax, and enjoy socially distant hangouts after diving. 

Truk Lagoon Expedition in 2019

Our partners at Blue O Two have always been serious about safety. Since inception, and continuing throughout their long history, crews have worked hard to ensure robust safety procedures to protect both the staff and guests, which is displayed by live drills during your cruise. This lets you feel safe and focus on the task at hand, having fun. 

Some of the new considerations that are happening onboard our boats include:

Whilst we believe our existing practices for hygiene and cleanliness are already industry leading, we have developed new operational protocols - with extra precautions against COVID-19 in mind and we want to share them with you.

Our plans include:

1. We may require team members to complete a pre-travel questionnaire, giving further confidence to fellow guests and crew that it is safe for you to travel to your vacation with us.

2. Additional training for crew in appropriate sanitation and cleaning practices with viral infections in mind. Where possible, sourcing environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals.

3. Enhanced, documented and inspected deep cleaning and sanitation of all areas of our vessels a minimum of three times a day, with special emphasis on high traffic, high contact areas. Where available, use of fogging and other devices.

4. Social distancing will be encouraged wherever possible, while maintaining the high level of guest service that we are known for. These plans include possible staggered briefings, diving activities, and mealtimes - where this is operationally feasible.

5. We hope to be able to source and provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves, to be worn as appropriate when onboard our vessels. This will apply to both our guests, and our crew. Additional hand sanitizer stations will be installed throughout our vessels.

6. Diving practices such as rinse tanks for equipment, suits and masks have been reviewed, taking into account the possibility of cross-contamination. We have also taken into consideration the provision of a towel service and rental equipment may be less available depending on the availability of suitable sanitising agents/sterile storage options.

7. We will be working hard with our suppliers and shore support agents to ensure logistical functions allow our vessels to operate. For example, provisioning and fuelling will be done in a manner consistent with social distancing principles.

These adjustments mean that the precautionary measures taken will allow your holiday to go ahead. We ask you to work with us and remember the changes are for the benefit of the safety of both our guests and crew.

Telegraph in the engine room of Fujikawa Maru in Truk Lagoon.

This means DDE has some high bars to live up to, but just look at some of our past testimonials, having all the extra space as standard has never put anyone off before:

“Small group of 12 of us, really comfortable boat and Aron’s safety program and staffing is second to none.” Jill Heinerth, Truk Lagoon 2020

“Trip was run like a well oiled machine, the boat was setup to accommodate technical/CCR divers and diver safety was always kept at the forefront of our priorities.”

Dallas S. Simpson - New York, USA - Bikini Atoll 2019

“What makes these expeditions by DD special is the limited number of people involved. This allows for some great camaraderie to emerge and sow the seeds of new friendships.”

Vincenzo Galli-Zugaro - Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar 2020

 Read more testimonials on our dedicated page HERE.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Decompression Hour with Nick Hollis and Jill Heinerth

Team members and friends Jill Heinerth and Nick Hollis sat down last week for the “Decompression Hour” to discuss how Jill uses rebreathers to tackle dives that would otherwise be very difficult, or on near impossible. Catch up on the stream on the link below.

#SOS Galapagos

It is sure bet that anyone without a penchant for shark fin soup is devastated about the current situation occurring just outside the Galapagos marine reserve. No longer hidden under the guise of COVID-19, China’s fishing fleet is ravaging the sea floor, and all that lie in it’s path, is now headline news across the globe. The fleet has been nicknamed the Great Wall of China by islanders as there is an estimated 26 million hooks and 265 vessels that span 300 miles which is almost double the length of the island archipelago itself. Not only are they fishing species that are illegal to sell in China and Hong Kong that suggests demand is high, the abhorrent amount of waste dumped overboard has been visible washed up on the beaches of the pristine islands.

Reports sat that China have agreed to pull the fleet in three weeks. We wait, heartbroken at the sheer volume of marine life lost, to see them leave. #sosgalapagos

#sosgalapagos

“The Chinese embassy in Quito said that China was a “responsible fishing nation” with a “zero-tolerance” attitude towards illegal fishing. It had confirmed with Ecuador’s navy that all the Chinese fishing vessels were operating legally “and don’t represent a threat to anyone”, it said in a statement last month. On Thursday China announced a three-month fishing ban in the high seas west of the marine reserve, but it will not come into force until September.” Read the full article from The Guardian here.

Our instagram algorithm has been full of activists raising awareness of this situation, and we salute them. We are avidly following @sharkgirlmadison, from Project Hui who has a keen eye for story telling and reporting.

Closing Statement

We understand COVID fatigue is everywhere, it is here for us too. There is nothing more that we would like to do than to be close with our teammates and friends like we are in the photo below. We have to think about this time as a something that will pass, and that for now to protect yourself and others we will have to be a little bit distant and the cleanest Dirty Dozen we have ever been, at least on the surface!

Whatever the future holds, we will promise to keep on pursuing ever safer travel to keep giving you a dive trip like no other.

Don’t forget, if you feel lonely at any point, we are always here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team 

🌆 Finding Your Way To Pripyat

Hey DDE members!

With the headlines full of confusing travel scenarios, we wanted to let you know we are keeping our finger on the pulse at DDE HQ.  It is our main priority that your travels with us are completely seamless and we have taken extra care to adapt to the new situation at that is coming our way, taking particular notice of entry requirements to the Ukraine for our upcoming Chernobyl tours and how to remain within the local regulations once you have arrived.

BEFORE ARRIVAL

The most important takeaways for you at this point are:

• Arriving travellers have been divided into two groups, Green and Red.  Check out the list of countries to check the status of your origin as of today. https://visitukraine.today/

• If arriving from Green approved countries you do not have to self-isolate on arrival.

• This list is constantly changing, being updated by the Ministry of Health every week. Travelers are advised to regularly check the Ministry of Health’s website to verify whether their country of departure falls within the Red category.

• Passengers transiting through a Red country will be treated as having arrived from a Red country, unless they were there for less than 24 hours.

• Passengers arriving from Red labelled countries will have to produce a negative test not older than 48 hours, and if negative you will not have to self-isolate.  The other option is testing on arrival to the Ukraine. Read more about this option below.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NO ISOLATION ON ARRIVAL:

Passengers arriving from a Red countries now have several choices to avoid mandatory self-isolation.

• They may now take a PCR test in their country of departure no more than 48 hours before their departure. At the border, they must present an official document detailing their negative PCR test. Passengers presenting a negative PCR test alongside a valid insurance policy which covers expenses relating to COVID-19, will be allowed to enter Ukraine without quarantine or the need to use the “Diy Vdoma” monitoring app.

• Unfortunately, private PCR testing is not readily available globally and can be very expensive.

• Conveniently, passengers from Red countries now have the possibility of receiving a test at three major Ukrainian airports: Lviv, Boryspil and Kharkiv. The tests costs UAH 1,500 (around $55). 

• A testing service has also been launched at Kyiv Zhuliany Airport (IEV) by the private company “Verde Clinic.” The cost is reported to be UAH 1,700 (around $60.) 

• The procedure takes 15 minutes. However, team members may have to stay in isolation at their lodgings until their “Diy Vdoma” app has updated with their negative test result. We highly recommend acquiring the test beforehand if possible to keep Murphy at bay but if you choose this at your entry, make sure to arrive some days before for this procedure!

• It is imperative that you have the correct insurance documents with you as you can see in the video above.  The insurance policy should be issued by a company registered in Ukraine or a foreign insurance company that has a representative office in Ukraine or a contractual relationship with an insurance company partner in Ukraine.  The policy must cover the costs associated with the treatment of COVID-19, observation and the entire duration of stay in Ukraine and you can sign up for insurance policies for your respective dates directly on https://visitukraine.today/

•  DDE has also been working with our on site legal team to create a policy that will cover you if you want it done in-house. 

INSIDE UKRAINE

When in transit and in public the rules are as follows:

• Wear a face mask (Children under 6 years old are allowed to go without face mask)

• Use antiseptic hand gel regularly when out and about

• Avoid crowded places

• Always keep your identity documents with you

• Keep your distance from others, 1.5m

• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap as often as you can

Mask Advice in the exclusion zone:

Our founder Aron Arngrímsson and the initial research team donned masks for the first time at Chernobyl, approximately six months before we went into lockdown. Nowadays these are common place, and it is recommended that this level of mask is worn as much as possible in the exclusion zone. The special rules you have to follow were a bit unusual at the time as one of our guests Jakub Slama recalls:

“Don’t sit anywhere, don’t touch anything, don’t put anything on the ground and don’t drink or eat outside of the vehicle. You would be surprised how much we are accustomed to be able to do those things in our everyday life. This is all second nature to us but not as easy as you would expect to unlearn while visiting the town of Pripyat. This was one of our first stops in 48 hours spent in The Exclusion zone. “

Surgical masks are examples of personal protective equipment that are used to protect the wearer in the exclusion zone. You will be allocated personal appropriate PPE when you enter the powerplant.

Antti Apunen in the “Golden Corridor” at CHNPP

Arrival at Chernobyl

Once we reach the Exclusion Zone there is more paperwork and checks that need to be completed before we get stuck in to the Zone.  This is not an instagram influencers’ day out at the Ferris wheel! The Zone is not an amusement park, it is a place for gathering knowledge. Our expeditions are led by explorers, scientists and previous Pripyat residents and know what to teach us to ensure our absolute safety while exploring the Zone. ⁠The Chernobyl Zone is a place where even usual things work completely different comparing to our normal daily life.⁠

Although it is impressive and beautiful, it is, nevertheless, a harsh territory. Our guides are explorers and pay exceptional attention to educating us during the visit. Be ready to learn and build up your knowledge to understand more about the Zone, its nature, and processes behind it.⁠

From the Exclusion Zone to inside the newly opened and infamous Control Room Number 4, you are now able to experience Chernobyl in a whole new way.  Check out the atmosphere inside the powerplant and feel the pressure when you watch this video from our last trip inside the control room in Unit #3.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Who are the real stalkers?

Stalking Chernobyl: Exploration After Apocalypse is a new documentary series that delves deeply into what the modern day experience is like exploring the zone as an extreme sports aficionado, an artist, a tour company and the people who aren’t allowed to be there, the illegal hikers known as "stalkers."

Watch the documentary in the link below:

Availability Update Alert 2020:

2 spaces available for 10 - 13 September

2 spaces available for 15 - 18 Oct

1 Space left 19-22 Nov

This sums up the updates we have for you about Chernobyl at the time of writing.

We are so excited to start the season soon and sharing this incredible experience with those of you joining us. If you want to join, drop us a line now to discuss how you can join onto one of our excellently curated, and considered expeditions.   

As always, we hope you all had a great week and have some fun plans this weekend. If not, or even if you do, don’t forget, if you feel lonely, we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team 

☢ Commemorating Operation Crossroads

Dear Dirty Dozen Member,

I hope this message finds you well.

During the month of July, we have been taking time to reflect on one of the most famous weapons test series in history,  Operation Crossroads. The test took place in Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands from 1 - 25 July, 1946.

What initially began as nuclear weapons testing on warships ended up as a total of 23 tests including Castle Bravo, with nuclear testing ending in 1958 with a combined yield of mindblowing 42 megatons.

Today, Bikini hides it’s explosive past under the surface of immense beauty and intriguing surroundings. After being out of the spotlight in more recent world history, Bikini Atoll became the site for the world’s media, government dignitaries and half of the world’s cinema equipment to capture harrowing scenes witnessed on a global scale that unknowingly would be more destructive and devastating than anyone could have imagined. 

A total of 242 naval ships, 156 aircraft, 25,000 radiation recording tools and 5,400 animals arrived. The latter were to serve as test subjects. More than 42,000 US personnel played a part in the testing program under the lead of President Harry Truman.

Unluckily for Bikini in retrospect, it’s isolation meant it was a perfect location for Operation Crossroads.  After church one Sunday, Navy Commodore Ben H. Wyatt gathered the hundred and sixty seven native Bikini Islanders and asked them to leave their home so the US could begin testing bombs. He stated it was for “the good of mankind and to end all world wars.”  King Juda, the Bikini monarch, was understandably confused but entered into discussions with his people.

They decided to leave: “We will go believing that everything is in the hands of God.”

The first test that took place on 1st July 1946 was called Able, and the actual bomb itself was “Gilda”. With the power of 23 kilotons, same as Hiroshima, it was dropped from the air from a B-29 airplane, on top of USS Nevada that was painted bright orange for the occasion. As the crowds watched on the bomb exploded 500 ft above sea level.

The fourth atomic bomb ever to be detonated was decorated with a photograph of Rita Hayworth or “Gilda” cut from the June 1946 issue of Esquire magazine

Three weeks later they were back at it again, only this time they were going for the underwater approach.  Keen to test if the military could knock out a whole flotilla from a single sub shot, they positioned the bomb 400 yards from the American attack submarine, Pilotfish, who had made six successful tours of the pacific during its service.

Detonated at 27m/88ft underwater beneath LSM-60, the 23 kiloton bomb, named Helen of Bikini, was released from the torpedo chamber on the 25th July, 1946, no part of LSM60 has been identified to this day, presumed vaporised by bomb.

In total, 95 vessels were caught in the crossfire of the Able and Baker bombs dropped on Bikini Atoll.

USS Arkansas, at 26.000 tons being flipped up in the air like a leaf in the wind.

Today the nuclear refugees are still without their island home due to increased radiation levels and the only residents habiting Bikini are a handful of caretakers.

From the misery and destruction wrought by the nuclear tests, Bikini’s nuclear ghost fleet has risen to the top of every wreck junkies bucket list to visit in the name of exploration and historical importance.

At DDE we believe wreck diving is a very unique part of scuba diving. Our founder Aron Arngrímsson recalls spending his career on coral reefs, deep walls, in mines or in caves, but the real thrill came when he went on his first wreck expedition to discover USCGC Alexander Hamilton off the coast of Iceland in 2012 and subsequently lay a memorial plaque for the 26 men still onboard.

For the DDE team it is about having good intentions, and for us education is at the forefront of our expeditions. We enjoy researching wrecks, discussing with the team about the events of the past which brings to life the happenings that led to atrocities, and then go on to see first-hand the impact of these decisions.  For the team, this could not be more of an anti-war message.

The human factors of lives lost in a conflict, war, nuclear tests should be remembered and behind every wreck is a story to be told, artifacts to be discovered or heroes to be honored.

Let’s make it clear that we are aware we maybe come across as having a morbid fascination with dark tourism, when in fact it is quite the contrary.  Our team believe we should make history real, and immerse ourselves in environments that we can learn from so that we may spark change for the future.

Sonar image of Bikini Atoll by Art Trembanis of the University of Delaware

USS Saratoga Schematics - Download Here!

This can help the current and next generation to be responsible and prudent guardians of the past as we make it our responsibility to share the full story of this rarely visited and unique place.

We also take into account the environmental impact events of the past have affected the destinations we visit.  It should come as no surprise that some wrecks could pose to be incredibly hazardous, just check out the image below to see for yourself.

Navy photo by LeighAhn Ferrari, chief mate, U.S. Naval Ship Salvor

In 2018, as we descended onto the famous heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in Kwajalein, we were the last divers to see that wreck that year.  After our visit the military hot tapped 229.000 gallons of oil from the wreck before it became a biological disaster, as you can imagine the devastation that alone would wreak on the surround delicate ecosystem of Kwajalein.

Commercial Divers from U.S Navy hot tapping Prinz Eugen in 2018. Photo courtesy of U.S Navy

Therefore, as we grow as a company, we are establishing more collaborations with research organizations like Major Projects Foundation, which through their incredible work help to contain environmental disasters before they happen.  Stay tuned to follow our story as it develops.

Dirty Dozen Team Members Antti Apunen and ZB at the Prinz Eugen the following year after the Navy operation.

Important Availability Update

Alert: two spaces 25 May - 04 June 2021 on our Bikini Atoll expedition with Richie Kohler have become available, first come first served.

DDE has sold out our 2021 Bikini Atoll season as we informed you two weeks ago, and now as a roll on effect on top of usual demand, we only have availability on two dates left in 2022, see calendar below. After that, we start selling 2023. Bikini was always a destination you had to plan ahead for, but current situation has brought dive plans to a whole new level.

Drop us a line now to discuss how you can join onto one of our excellently curated, and considered expeditions.  

Check out our other calendars: HERE!

As always, we hope you all had a great week and have some fun plans this weekend. If not, or even if you do, don’t forget, if you feel lonely, we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team

🔥 Hot Off The Press

Dear Dirty Dozen Member,

I hope this message finds you well and healthy. We had a busy week at DDE which turned out to be a bit RAID themed and figured we’d fill you in.

The first issue of the brand new digital dive magazine The Edge is on the scene. Brought to you by training agency RAID it covers the latest in industry news, travel reports, equipment reviews, and RAID training updates. The Dirty Dozen team members can be found all over the magazine, having a blast! Amongst others Jill Heinerth took the hot seat for some Q&A and I did a feature piece detailing some of our knowledge of our favorite topic of conversation, wrecks!

Talking Bikini Atoll, we discuss Operation Crossroads, and perhaps our favorite wreck in the Pacific, the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. Click here to read the article.

Dive RAID South Africa’s Director of Technical Diving, Member of the Explorer’s Club and Dirty Dozen diver PJ Prinsloo gave a live presentation about his highlights from his bucket list DDE expedition to Truk Lagoon.  Join him as he captivates the audience with his informative talk on some of his favorite wrecks in the Lagoon and shares some awesome shots, cool infographics, and answers questions posed by the audience.

Watch it over on Facebook here.

And finally, we are celebrating the launch of the DeeperBlue.com podcast this month!  If it isn’t already, make it be your weekly guide to everything that is happening around the world… underwater.  Each week they cover everything that is happening in scuba diving, freediving, dive travel, and ocean advocates world. 

This week on Episode 4, Jason Elias, the host, and creator of another dive podcast, “Big Deep”, which debuted at DEMA last year with a launch party at the DeeperBlue.com booth gets some top tips for big expedition planning from yours truly.

“you should not be discouraged and do your research.  Dive shows are a great place to gain ideas on trip planning, read the dive mags, do some online investigating, and vet the people you give the responsibly to take you.  Bigger trips are not just for the mega-rich and famous if you have your heart set on a big expedition, there is a way. “

Listen here now, and don’t forget every share, like and listen, counts.

Booking trips with DDE is a great way to plan as we can work out affordable payment schedules over large time spans and we have temporarily lowered our deposit amounts to 15%, so you can book onto your trip in confidence at a very affordable price.

Contact us now to find out more about our new payment schedules where final payments are as late as 90 days before departure. Our calendars are scheduled unit 2025 so your dreams can be realized and away you go on your trip of a lifetime.

I hope you all had a great week and have some fun plans this weekend. If not, or even if you do, don’t forget, if you feel lonely, we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team

Bikini Atoll 2020 Cancelled

Despite our best efforts, The Dirty Dozen Expeditions has also been affected by COVID, and it is therefore with a heavy heart we must announce the following:

The DDE Team recently let all our affected guests know that there will be no charters heading out on trips to Bikini Atoll in 2020. Despite great effort from our team to work out new plans and logistics to see our divers set sail for the rest of the season in the Marshall Islands, we were regrettably unsuccessful given the world situation. Along with our partners, we held out as long as possible within the margin for logistics and safety, but in the end, rescheduling became the only option.

Despite the very disappointing news, we are striving to focus on solutions for the future. All our guests have been contacted and rebooked onto charters leaving from 2021 so no one has been left at home.

We would like to let you know that Bikini Atoll 2021 is now fully booked. We are already accepting bookings for 2022 so get your names on the list now if you think exploring this unique destination is for you.

Reason being, the first of five DDE expeditions to Bikini in 2022 is already sold out now and we continue to see high demand for this exclusive destination. Dirty Dozen holds over 40% of worldwide availability for Bikini Atoll in 2022 and onwards along with our partner Blue O Two and we don’t want you to miss out on your chance to join us in the future!

Click here to review the schedule from 2022 onwards

Watch the trailer by clicking on the photo!

In other news, we are excited about season 3 of the National Geographic TV show - Draining the Oceans.

For those of you that missed the premiere in May, Bikini’s nuclear ghost fleet has risen once again as National Geographic reveal what lies beneath in a fascinating look underwater in their epic show featuring USS Gilham, USS Pilotfish and the USS Saratoga.

Following the small crew of research scientists, Drain the Oceans does what it says on the tin. 

Except, instead of actually draining the ocean (the most asked questions on Google if you search the show), they use the latest in high tech scanning equipment and the most advanced sonar mapping system ever to scan Bikini bottom.

“Drain the Oceans dives deep into the unknown; a truly epic, truly original series that takes underwater adventure and earth science illustration into a whole new era. Ambitious exploration, advances in scientific research, and innovative technology mean Earth Science and History step forward to expose hidden evidence of the most amazing undersea mysteries, as never seen before.” National Geographic.

Producing meticulous 3D models of the wrecks, you are effectively taking them out of the water and can accurately decipher the impact of the nuclear blasts and fathom the reason why some of the almost unsinkable ships were sunk.

We consulted with the production company beforehand and managed to meet the crew in 2019 during filming, and one of our good friends Dan Stevenson that we worked with on Monty Halls 8 years earlier was onboard. It sure is a small world.

Lastly, our charters at the end of the year/beginning of next year are not affected at this time of writing, and rest assured we are constantly keeping a close eye on any developments.

We are so thankful for our clients for being so supportive and understanding and look forward to our many exciting years ahead of exploration but of course don’t forget, if you feel lonely, we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team

5 Incredible Wrecks for Recs. in Truk Lagoon

We’ve said it before and we are saying it again! Truk Lagoon is really a paradise playground for all divers, both technical and recreational.

Here are just a few of the wrecks above 40m that make up the fleet of 50+ wrecks in Truk Lagoon that are perfect for both recreational diving and tech too!

1.    The Betty Bomber

At 18m on the seabed the Betty B is a relatively intact Japanese bomber.  Although the two engines are located a short swim away from the main wreck itself the surrounding area of the plane is littered with artefacts from inside the aircraft including the radio, machine guns, and a toilet.  It is even possible to enter (if certified) the fuselage and swim all the way through the wreck.

2.    Rio De Janeiro Maru

The average depth of the Rio De Janeiro Maru is 23m.  The ship was a large eight-deck liner that was converted into a submarine tender in the early part of the war, before being converted a second time into a special transport vessel.  Her rear holds have burst with hundreds of beer bottles, some still in their cases. The stern of the Rio has an impressive gun set on a large platform, docking telegraph and two photogenic propellers set between a single rudder.

3.    Yamagiri Maru

A popular wreck with divers, the Yamagiri is famous for the huge gun shells that are found in one of her holds along with a steamroller and other construction equipment.  You can check out the huge gun shells in the holds of the Yamagiri Maru. The engine room, main superstructure, and forward holds all offer plenty of interesting areas for exploration.

4.    Nippo Maru

An all time favourite is the Nippo Maru that has an average depth of 30m and has the probably the best bridge in the lagoon with the ship’s telegraph and steering binnacle still in remarkable condition.  Scattered over the wreck is a small Japanese battle tank, the remains of trucks and twin-barrelled anti-aircraft guns. Down in the holds are various types of ammunition, range finders, mess gear, beer bottles and water tanks.  The spectacular engine room is widely believed to be the first point of contact by enemy torpedoes in Operation Hailstone. ⁠⁠

5.    Shinkoku Maru

Thinking you need a good coral fix while you are there?  Then the Shinkoku Maru is a must dive and with an average depth of 25m, this has it all. Boasting amazing coral growth and lots of interesting marine life, this is a real stand-out wreck dive in Truk Lagoon. The large engine room is accessible through a torpedo hole on the port side and both bow and stern guns are intact and heavily encrusted with life.  There is lots of accessible penetrations for those who are trained and comfortable with entering the superstructure.  Inside you can pay a visit to the sickbay that is still complete with operating table and tools.  Elsewhere there are accommodation spaces with tiled baths, a galley, and lots of refuelling hoses. There are three telegraphs in the remains of the bridge and piles of artefacts scattered around the decks. Shinkoku Maru is widely considered to be one of the best night dives on the planet.

What do you think? Want to join us on our recreational expedition in January 2022 with Andy Torbet? Email us HERE

🔥Hot New Expedition Dates

The news is full of future travel plans and I get the feeling many of you are pretty excited.

Yesterday we filled the last space for Bikini 2021 so the season is officially SOLD OUT!

Don’t worry, there is plenty of opportunity to explore Bikini and our other cool destinations: Truk Lagoon, Galapagos and Chernobyl.

Bikini is one of the most remote diving destinations in the world,  it sits quietly just north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean (halfway between Hawaii and Australia). Although it is almost completely lacking in infrastructure we have devised the best way for you to explore this world class wreck site and even though it takes a while to get there, diving on the nuclear ghost fleet more than makes up for any lengthy journey.

Check out our updated expedition calendar below that runs until 2025. We can offer small deposits, flexible payment terms and friendly booking conditions on all our trips to get your down and dirty with some of the most infamous wrecks on the planet.

Interested in joining us, get in touch here…

Not quite as off the beaten track as Bikini Atoll, there is a shop on land that sells a variety of spam and some booze, but it is still quite a long way away is Truk Lagoon. A diver’s paradise and surprisingly for some, this wreck yard that is strewn across the seabed is super accessible to recreational and technical divers alike.  

We have our first recreational expedition coming up with Special Guest Andy Torbet in March 2021, as well as a bunch of specialized technical expeditions which are the essence of DDE. See the dates on the calendar below.

Fancy exploring this beautiful playground sometime?  Register your interest now, here!

I don’t think I need to introduce this wonderland, it’s heavenly reputation almost certainly precedes it.  Diving in the Galapagos is rewarding but occasionally demanding, even for very experienced divers. To make sure you enjoy your trip, it’s good if you have some experience with strong currents. 

Join us on our very exclusive and rare CCR ONLY itineraries as well as a mixed CCR/OC expeditions in 2021/2022.

Wanna join us?  Register your interest now, here!

Last but not least. Less remote and a bit closer to home but no less wild, we are now scheduling trips to Chernobyl.   

There is no argument that this one of the world’s biggest technogenic radioactive source, so how can it be safe to explore?  The average radiation exposure each day in the Zone is the same as a regular aeroplane flight, about 2 μSv (or 200 μR in micro Roentgens).  That is much less than when you have an X-ray!

The Zone is not an amusement park, it is a place for gathering knowledge and our guides (explorers, scientists and previous Pripyat residents) will lead us down a route with the least exposure.

Register here and explore more on the Chernobyl section of our website which is an exciting resource full of information and the details of the trip.

Interested? Send us an inquiry now for any of the expeditions you want before we fill up, and don’t forget if you feel lonely, we are here to chat Dirty.

5 Reasons Recreational Divers Love Diving in Truk Lagoon

The tranquil blue waters of Truk Lagoon are hiding a paradise so incredible you need to see it, to believe it.  Under the enticing calm azure hues lies a seabed of exploration awaiting your arrival.  Don’t be misled though, this playground is not out of your depth and the inclusive nature of the wrecks means that single tank divers are welcome. 

We certainly recommend to get the best of your experience that you are AOW (Advanced Open Water or Equivalent) certified and that this is accompanied by Nitrox and Wreck Diver Speciality. Here are 5 reasons recreational divers love diving in Truk Lagoon:

1.     70% of + 40 wrecks lie within the 40m/141ft range. Despite often being regarded as a deep, technical diving location with big challenging wrecks and advanced penetrations this is simply not the case.

2.     It is ideal to visit throughout the year as the environmental conditions in Truk Lagoon are excellent.

3.     The vis in the lagoon is generally quite good all year round, but not excellent. During the dry season November to February visibility can reach25m/80ft or more.  12-20m/40-60ft is the norm and 11m/30ft visibility would be a bad day.

4.     You can penetrate (if certified) to visit engine rooms, check out artillery trucks, bags and bags of ammo, huge tanks, guns, torpedoes and much more.

5.     The wrecks have been in the lagoon for more than 60 years and are covered in soft and hard coral growth but they are still largely intact.

Our first recreational trip kicks off January 2022 with our good friend Andy Torbet, BBC Earth and History Channel host, explorer extraordinaire, and all-around dive junkie. ⁠. Contact us now to find out more and book.

Chernobyl Is Open!

Do you remember we announced some exciting news a few weeks ago about our upcoming trips to Chernobyl?   Well, the time has come and we are pleased to announce that we are now OPEN for bookings as lockdown is easing across the globe, and we look forward to future adventures once again.

We spent last year scouting this destination, during which we explored Pripyat and the surrounding forest in a group of five, camped in the USSR Research base in the woods and immersed ourselves in the Zone’s stark scenery resulting in an itinerary that will blow you away.  

Let our expert private guide with ten years experience including working with the crew on HBO’s TV mini-series: Chernobyl, take you on a journey into this wild wilderness and out of your comfort zone.

Be included in the Exclusion

From the Exclusion Zone to inside the newly opened and infamous Control Room Number 4, you are now able to experience Chernobyl in a whole new way with Dirty Dozen Expeditions.  Check out our awesome new two day itinerary here.

From the Cold War, dosimeters can still pick up the radiation from the surrounding area.

Incoming from New York

A dosimeter measures the external radiation in an environment.  We have been sent some Cold War relics from New York that we are bringing with us to enrich our Chernobyl experience from DDE team member and diver, John.  Don’t worry, we have some modern ones to hand out too. 

Feel the pressure when you watch this video from our last trip inside the circulations pump room in Unit #3.

Hear the beeps increase when the dosimeters pick up more ionizing radiation in the surrounding area.

Click HERE to be directed to the video.

In the video you can see Antti Apunen of Divers of the Dark walk alongside me as we approach the door to UNIT 4 inside the site of the nuclear disaster. 

With masks on, our minds went on what can only be described as a emotional rollercoaster throughout the two-hour tour deep inside the powerplant.

Explore more on the CHERNOBYL section of our website which is an exciting resource full of information and details of the trip and register your interest now as we finalise the schedule.

Season 1 Highlights #CCDD

Dear Dirty Dozen Team Member,

Season 1 of Coming Clean with the Dirty Dozen has finished, but it’s not over as we have already planned Season 2 and we will return with a big splash soon TBA.

We have drawn so much inspiration from each guest and hope that we have filled your corona lockdown with adventures that resonate with you too. We thought we could share some season highlights from these awesome explorers

Episode 1. Jill Heinerth: Bent, An Honest Conversation

“I thought I had ants in my drysuit, like something was biting my thighs.”

Episode 2. Matt Jevon: How I Recovered From COVID-19

“It sounds a small thing but being able to get up and walk to the other side of the room after three weeks has been a great achievement”

Episode 3. Mark Powell: Latest Thoughts on Deco Theory

“In short decompression theory is looking at a culmination of what occurs in the body compared with some theories and some practical algorithms that make it possible to do dives without getting bent.  The really long answer takes about three weeks.

Episode 4. Jim Standing and Paul Strike: The Way The Hammer Shapes The Hand: How Dives Create Products

“It got to the point where I felt there was nothing out there that really spoke to me as a diver.  Rather naively, we thought maybe we could come up with products that divers value and most importantly improves their diving.”

Episode 5. Richie Kohler: 40 Years of Shipwreck Diving

“It’s going to get even better, as time goes by there are incredible opportunities to go even further. You have to be in it, you have to be diving and you have to look as you are never going to find new horizons if you don’t leave the shore.”

Episode 6. Stephan Whelan & Mark Evans: Behind The News: 25 years in Dive Media

“The most important thing I have learnt is that you have to keep things fresh and you have to keep moving.”

Episode 7. SJ Alice Bennett: Capturing Shadows Underground

“Caves are magical and unique.  There is so much variety it’s hard not to capture a good shot.”

Episode 8. Nick Hollis: Born Into Diving

“If we can make someone’s diving experience with a good product that is what excites us.”

Episode 9. Kirk Krack: Technical Diving in Hollywood

“I had to train the actors so the breath hold was in the background and they could still act, anyone who works in the water knows its three times as hard.”

Episode 10. Gabriel Pineda: Shearwater And The Real-Time Decompression Revolution

“It’s the tools that the real explorers at the vanguard of exploration are using, it’s the real thing.”

Episode 11. Kevin Gurr: Innovating From The Bottom Up

“In those days all the training was held in Tom’s house.  You’d rock up, fight your way through the rottweilers, sit around chat about diving a bit.  Someone would say- oh I’ve been doing this, and we’d say – oh you’re still alive that’s really cool, and we’d build on that.”

All episodes of Coming Clean with the Dirty Dozen are on Youtube and also available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcast. Please listen and if you enjoy it we would soooo appreciate it if you subscribe, rate and review as it helps us stay in the podcast chart!

Aron Arngrimsson with his #CCDD mascot, the Divesoft duck and team Geoff Creighton and Victoria Brown.

So, thats that then. I guess I realized my closet dream of pretending to be a chat show host! Thank you Geoff Creighton and GWC Media for the incredible tec, F1 will seem easy to go back to after looking after your favorite #CCDD donkeys! And Victoria Brown our Producer and Content Creator. Yalla team, season 2 isn’t going to write itself.

Add us on your socials now, FB or IG, so we can still be over your airways because if you feel lonely, we are still here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team

Technical Freediving in Hollywood

Dear Dirty Dozen Team Member,

What a week of excitement it has been! We’ve seen our lockdown restrictions eased here in the Ukraine, I bought my fiancée a glass of wine from a terrace bar at a safe distance from others. I managed to have a great chat with Nick Hollis from Hollis Gear and PFI founder Kirk Krack announced he is joining us as Special Guest on a technical freedive trip to Truk Lagoon in January 2022.

Interest has already gone wild since the announcement was made on the action-packed episode of Coming Clean on Monday. If you are interested please do get in contact now for more information.

Speaking with Kirk about his involvement in the film industry, the first project that he introduced technical freediving to was Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation during a scene where Tom Cruise was facing a long breath hold.  Today, Kirk Krack is on the back end of 31 months of filming James Cameron’s the Avatar sequels in LA and New Zealand which premieres December 2021.

“James’ vision of the alien underwater world is going to blow everyone away.”  Said Kirk during our interview.

Each episode of our show encourages audience participation through submitting questions; Founder of DeeperBlue.com Stephan Whelan asked in the online comments:

SW: “Considering how much technical freediving is coming to the forum in discussions, do you see it being taught by freediving and mainstream agencies in the future?” 

KK: “Oh, absolutely so.  I feel comfortable and confident that with my background in mixed gas diving and hyperbarics, and safety being my thing, the task is to make sure that the right education system supports technical freediving because there are a lot of advantages and can be the right tool for the job, but there are certainly some hazards to consider.”

To summarize, Kirk is in the process developing an educational system based around technical freediving practices with standards & procedures and thorough support materials. 

Watch Kirk’s episode over on YouTube.

Kirk and buddies breathing a mix on the surface before a technical freedive in Truk Lagoon with Aron Arngrimsson and Truk Master in 2017.

Don’t miss out tomorrow night as we speak to Director of Sales and Marketing at Shearwater Research: Gabriel Pineda about the real time decompression revolution.

Previous episodes of Coming Clean with the Dirty Dozen are now also available on Spotify, Apple and Google Podcast. Please listen and if you enjoy it we would soooo appreciate it if you subscribe, rate and review as it helps us stay in the podcast chart!

We also added some new merch on the online store. Check it out - here!

Be sure to follow us on our social channels anytime, FB or IG, because as you know, if you feel lonely we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team

Faces For Audio

Coming Clean with the Dirty Dozen is now available on Spotify, Apple and Google.

With so many lockdown restrictions loosening across the globe and we cautiously look to returning to our outdoor lives once again, we wanted to give you a gift to accompany you on your way back to your radical adventures.

Our team has been busy meeting the best divers in the game.  From explorers to manufacturers to media gurus, each guest shares their own perspective on what it takes to be successful in their careers.

If you are missing our faces you can still watch every episode on YouTube forever. Should you decide our faces were best meant for audio, our podcasts are there waiting for you.

This is not the end of our project even though things are slowing down. We still plan to finish our season with 4 episodes remaining on same schedule with Season 2 TBA.

Please listen and if you enjoy it we would soooo appreciate it if you subscribe, rate and review as it helps us stay in the podcast chart!

Be sure to follow us on our social channels anytime, FB or IG, because as you know, if you feel lonely we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team

#CCDD 25 Years In Dive Media

Founder of DeeperBlue.com Stephan Whelan and Scuba Diver Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Mark Evans were our guests on Coming Clean with the Dirty Dozen this week.

Not often caught in front of the camera, watch Aron Arngrimsson interview Stephan and Mark during lockdown in the UK as they delve deeper into Deeperblue.com’s incredible community, Scuba Diver Magazine’s evolution and how to encourage a whole new younger generation of underwater explorers.

Find out why freediving is more popular than scuba, how Mark ended up inside a sheep during a river dive and what we can do to raise the profile of diving as a community.

We have said it before and it we will say it again; are humbled by the extremely positive response this project has received and extend out thanks to you all.

Catch up on all the previous episodes over on our Youtube Channel, don’t forget to hit subscribe and click the notification bell to keep bringing the finest explorers into your living room.

Our guest this week is renowned cave photographer SJ Alice Bennett.

Tune in to watch #CCDD Capturing Shadows Underground on Monday the 11th of May at 7 PM GMT. 3.00 PM ET live over on FB.

Be sure to follow us on our social channels anytime, FB or IG, because as you know, if you feel lonely we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team

Richie Kohler’s 90 Minutes, #CCDD Halfway Mark and 102m Deep with Nataliia Zharkova

Photo by David Concannon

Hi Everyone!

For those of you that tuned in last night, WOW what an interview, and thank you for joining us. We planned for 60 mins of action, we gave you 90 minutes of (almost) uninterrupted charismatic storytelling from Richie Kohler.

A diver famed for his unending passion for researching maritime history and expeditions on some of the biggest names in wreck diving. From his first invitation to dive the Andrea Doria to the incredible story of identifying the German U-Who sub as U-869 and being the subject of the book Shadow Divers, Richie went on to complete multiple missions to the Titanic and the Britannic.

In case you missed it, don’t worry, we recorded it and all the previous episodes and they are available on our YouTube Channel. Remember to click subscribe and tick the notification bell!

On the next episode, we are welcoming dive media Gurus, Stephen Whelan and Mark Evans as we delve into 25 years of radical dive press.

We are taking a tiny watching break after the next awesome show to catch up on some gardening and trip planning but we will be back with a bang on Monday 11th May.

Finally, we wanted to share with you a video from one of our special guests Nataliia Zharkova, who was with us in Myanmar last month on our freediving expedition. The seventh woman on the planet to swim past 100m on one breath, check out this dive to 102m.

Nataliia is hosting a webcast in association with GUE Netherlands soon, watch out for the announcement and follow the 6 x Freediving World Record Holder on IG or FB .

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday and stay tuned into our social channels because as you know, if you feel lonely we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team

SIGN UP for our interview with Richie Kohler

As Avid wreck divers, we are really excited to have one of our team members Richie Kohler join us and talk wreck diving this coming Thursday at 7 PM GMT. To sign up and get a reminder about the broadcast, please click on the image below which will lead you to our Facebook page where the planned live event has been put up. When you click “Get Reminder”, Facebook will remind you before we go live.

Also, remember you can catch up on our previous episodes on our Youtube Channel by clicking the image below where you can catch up on last nights episode in case you missed it. Remember to subscribe and click the notification bell!

Finally, the hugely positive response to this show has meant the world to the team. This is exactly why we wanted to do this show, to keep spirits high and dreams imagined for all the future adventures ahead!

Looking forward to seeing you Thursday and stay tuned on our social channels anytime, because as you know, if you feel lonely we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team

THIS WEEK: Fourth Element and Richie Kohler Come Clean!

Last Thursday we had the pleasure of having our old friend and deco theory expert Mark Powell join us for a very interesting interview about introduction to diving, his views on deco theory over the years, and some of the latest research he has been conducting alongside DAN. Click the link above and visit our YouTube page now where you can catch up on all the episodes once they have aired. Remember to subscribe and click the notification bell!

On Monday evening, we welcome Jim Standing and Paul Strike, the brains behind the award-winning diving equipment manufacturers Fourth Element as they celebrate their twentieth year in business, and Mission 2020 is realized.

Thursday evening Richie Kohler is bringing his passion for technical scuba diving and maritime history to our stage. Having explored some of the most challenging shipwrecks in the world, including the Andrea Doria and HMHS Britannic, Richie is now ready to Come Clean with The Dirty Dozen.

We are humbled by the extremely positive response this project has gotten, and we are so excited to keep bringing the finest explorers into your living room during these trying times.

Tune in this week and stay tuned on our social channels anytime, because as you know, if you feel lonely we are here to chat Dirty.

Love,

Aron and the DDE Team