My wife and I were on the Open Circuit trip to the Galápagos with Dirty Dozen. As an absolute non-technical diver—with zero aspiration to become one—but someone who wanted to go on this trip with every cell in my body, I was honestly concerned about feeling out of place, not being up to the challenge, or being surrounded by hardcore technical divers or technical-diver wannabes. Getting to know the people we would be sharing the boat with through the WhatsApp group immediately put many of those worries to rest. By the time we finally met in person, I felt completely comfortable and at ease. The Zoom meetings were incredibly helpful in preparing us for the trip, but they also gave us a chance to get to know one another, support each other, and build a sense of community as the trip approached. Dirty Dozen was fantastic at answering every question promptly and thoroughly. They made sure everyone was prepared and reassured those who were experiencing travel hiccups that everyone would be cared for and safely brought on board. Once on board, the safety briefing was the best we have ever received on a liveaboard. We didn’t just discuss different types of emergencies and how they would be handled—we actually practiced. We grabbed our life jackets, put them on, made sure we were wearing them correctly, and learned exactly how every feature worked. We also discussed how to behave as safely as possible as a group in the event that we ever had to abandon ship. While we were doing the drill, I couldn’t help imagining the chaos that could occur during an emergency on some of the previous liveaboards we’ve been on, where we were simply pointed toward the life jackets—which, as a short person, were often difficult for me to reach in the first place! We all hope that nothing will ever happen, but occasionally it does, and when it does, your life can literally depend on how well you are prepared to respond. Another aspect of this trip which we had never experienced on previous liveaboards was how every member of the crew was truly hands-on and skilled at helping us prepare for dives and safely getting us in and out of the pangas. Their timing, skill, coordination, and strength were impressive—and very comforting for this nervous and cautious diver! And then there were the DMs, Javier and Eduardo. How do I even begin to describe them without writing an entire book? They were, without question, the BEST guides—and really, they were so much more than guides—we have ever had. Javier, with his absolutely delightful sense of humor, kept us informed, prepared, and safe throughout the trip. Underwater, he immediately read all of us: our abilities, our experience levels, and our individual comfort zones. He is an incredible diver, and his passion and pride in his work—and in the beautiful realm he was guiding us through—were always so obvious and so endearing. My wife and I appreciate Javier more than we could ever express in words. We had an incredible experience and, most importantly, always felt safe. We grew as divers, learned so much, and had an enormous amount of fun along the way. Eduardo was all of that as a guide but also his in-depth knowledge of the Galápagos Islands was impressive,-from their geological formation to the flora and fauna, both underwater and on land. His knowledge of the history of the islands, combined with his incredible passion and dedication to conservation, added an entirely different dimension to the experience. Listening to Eduardo made me appreciate the Galápagos in a completely different way. It made me realize just how fortunate we were to experience these incredible places with someone who not only knows them so deeply, but genuinely cares about protecting them. Jill Heinerth, our special guest, and a major reason why a lot of us joined this trip was simply extraordinary! She shared throughout the week so many amazing stories and one evening gave us such an informative and fascinating presentation about her work that had us all glued to our seats and never wanting her to stop. I firmly believe that the reason our group was so cohesive was because Jill brings out the best in people! Her kindness, her ability to connect with people and make them feel heard and comfortable is unparalleled! Beyond her impressive career and persona whom we all look up to and admire, there was the human Jill, one of us, with her amazing smile and ability to appreciate every experience and person around her! She took the time to connect with each one of us at a personal level and made this trip simply magical! At this point, I have officially run out of adjectives to express how grateful we are for how incredibly rich this trip was in experiences, knowledge, adventure, and connection. Dirty Dozen gave us an unforgettable Galápagos experience. We came away as better, more confident divers, with an even deeper appreciation for the incredible place we had been lucky enough to visit—and with memories and friendships that will stay with us for a very long time. I truly cannot imagine having experienced this trip with a better crew, better guides, or a better group of people. This experience has set a new level of expectation that other companies would have a hard time to meet!

Having a fantastic time other divers were great and fun to hang out with. Service on the boat was great. Aron works hard to ensure everyone has a great time and things run smoothly. I would do it again!

I recently completed a technical diving Liveaboard in Truk Lagoon with Dirty Dozen Expeditions, and it was an incredible experience! As an avid wreck diver, Chuuk has been on my bucket list for years, and it absolutely delivered. But what really set this trip apart was the quality of wreck diving. The penetration opportunities gave my buddy and I the opportunity to explore some of the most iconic wrecks in the world. Moving through engine rooms, cargo holds, and narrow passageways while being able to see all the artifacts that these ships were carrying was a surreal experience. Dive Briefings were detailed, routes were well thought out, and there was a strong emphasis on awareness, communication, and overall dive safety inside the wrecks. That level of preparation made it possible to push further while still feeling completely comfortable and in control. We did lose a couple days of diving due to Typhoon Sinlaku, which was not ideal (but out of anyones control); however, the way it was handled really stood out. Aron, Hunter, and the rest of the Dirty Dozen & Odyssey team kept everyone well informed and made calm, safety first decisions throughout. They did a great job making the best out of the situation at hand. The wreck selection was excellent, with a great mix of well-known sites and less-dived areas, but it was the penetration itself that made each dive memorable. Every dive felt purposeful, and there was a real respect for both the wrecks and the environment. Onboard, everything ran smoothly. The dive deck scheduling, gas blending, and all other coordination was handled perfectly, which makes a huge difference on a technical trip. Additionally, the food provided by the Odyssey team is without a doubt the best food I've had on a Liveaboard! All in all, this is a proper diving expedition, not a casual dive holiday. If you’re trained, prepared, and passionate about wreck penetration, this is exactly the kind of trip you want to be on. I can't wait to be back!

This trip came together by happenstance. A dive buddy was asking me about rebreather diving and mentioned he was planning a trip to Truk with the Dirty Dozen the following year. He also said there were still a few spots available—so I booked it and got him trained up on the Prism2 for the trip. It will go down as a trip to remember. It started with getting on the boat two days late due to a typhoon—but in the end, that delay actually made for a much less hectic experience than what others had faced earlier in the trip. Aron and the entire crew of the Odyssey went above and beyond at every turn—even offering to extend the trip to make up for lost time. What I really appreciated about the trip was the attention to detail. From the pre-dive briefings—which included layouts of the wrecks with clear do’s and don’ts, along with the option of a guided dive—to the splash checks, everything was well thought out. Safety was clearly the top priority, which was also evident in the requirement to analyze and log gases for each dive. Although the typhoon reduced visibility, it had little impact once we were down on the wrecks. The current was somewhat unexpected, but it added an extra layer of excitement to the dives. The artifacts—along with the vehicles and ordnance we were able to see—were truly incredible. Without a doubt, these were some of the best wrecks I’ve ever dived. The food onboard was excellent, with plenty available—hunger was never an issue. The rooms were spacious enough to comfortably store luggage. If you’re considering this trip—don’t hesitate. I’d book it again without question.

What an amazing experience diving Truk Lagoon with the Dirty Dozen! I wish I could have stayed for a month. Incredible support from a fantastic crew and team. Great diving briefings, friendly people, great accommodations and always working hard to make sure you enjoy every moment. There was so much to see, and they made every moment easy so I could focus on being safe and enjoying a special experience. Big thanks to Aron, Dannie, Collin and Hunter!