Operations Crossroads - Test Able

It had been less than a year since nuclear testing on a naval fleet had first been suggested. In that time, the population of Bikini Atoll was cleared and ninety four vessels were now moored in the lagoon. Some 40,000 personal moved into the area and the world was ready for Operation Crossroads to begin. It was time for the Able test. 1st July 1946
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[@Reefark]

DON’T TRUST THEM
After two long days of sleepless travel, I and four of my fellow divers departed our United Airlines flight and arrived at a military installation in Kwajalein to discover that over weight bags containing critical life support equipment were not allowed to board the flight from Honolulu to Kwajalein. This flight has ALWAYS been weight limited. Ground crew in Gwan and Kwajalein assured me that this is a common problem. It would not be possible to receive our bags prior to boat departure. In fact, my bags didn’t arrive until I departed the island. Our boat captain would not delay departure for a moment longer. “The company” insisted they depart on time. The captain delivered this information without a hint of sadness or an ounce of compassion for the enormous disappointment myself and another diver.
Diving Bikini Atoll requires specialized training in technical diving. In Bikini Atoll, inadequate training and/or faulty gear can lead to death. There are no hospitals for treatment. Injury in this location would have ruined the trip for every passenger on the boat. For this reason, divers bring their gear (except tanks). Replacement gear was offered by the company. Gear the company admitted had question quality. Gear for which I was not qualified by training to use safely. Gear which may have placed my health and/or life at risk. Gear which would not have given me a very limited opportunity to enjoy the what I had traveled two sleepless days to see. For this reason, I chose not to attend as this would have needlessly place myself and other divers in harms way. In the absence of suitable gear, my trip to Bikini Atoll would have been a glorified snorkeling adventure. The company would like you to believe that happily threw away fifteen thousand dollars and a two weeks of my time.
What is most important to Master Liveaboards is your money. My local dive center booked this trip prior to the pandemic. Master Liveaboards pressured the dive shop to make payment for a trip that had no date of departure. Ten divers from our group paid for this trip. Three divers completed the trip. Master Liveaboards acknowledges awareness United Airless know problem with delivering baggage. The do not warn future passengers of this problem. They will provide you with an “Insurance Letter” so that you can recover a small fraction of your investment. They WILL NOT take responsibility for their mistakes nor will they every return to you a dollar of your money. They will offer a half off voucher for a future trip. Why would I throw good money after bad? If the couldn’t be trusted the first time then why would I trust them again. This company will chose profit over honor and reputation. THIS COMPANY DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR BUSINESS

[@MasterLiveaboards]

Dear Chris,
We understand your disappointment that you missed your trip to Bikini Atoll with Master Liveaboards. As with all of our destinations we recommend that people arrive early in order to help in the event that there are delays, baggage issues, as well a being able to adjust after long haul travel. There have been some logistical issues with United this year and this is frustrating for everyone, though it is thankfully affecting very few guests. This does not help you of course. However, on arrival you were offered alternative equipment (we cannot, obviously, carry spares of every type of CCR unit type to cover every eventuality for every client) but you declined the offer and you also declined to join the vessel. We have offered to provide assistance with a claim on your travel insurance as well as credit against an alternative trip but you have declined these also.
As always we are happy to deal with our clients to find a resolution that suits everyone, but this is not always possible. You are already in contact with our sales and reservations manager and we would be happy to continue this ongoing conversation.
Kind regards,
The Master Liveaboards team