Camping/ Rock Islands

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Cacia

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Does anyone have any experience or tips regarding camping on one of the Rock Islands in Palau? I have not done much camping but Sam's is dropping the two of us on the island near Big Drop Off (could be New Drop-Off) and Blue Planet will provide the camping gear. I am sure they know what to send us with but I was curious if anyone had done this or something similiar and had ideas about it. I am assuming we will have no contact with anyone until the boat comes back to pick us up. I want to take some great food and snorkel, freedive right there. I have been there a few times but never camped.
 
Thats Ngemelis Island. I have been camping with Ron on several occasions. Its a great thing to do, don't worry they will set you up with everything you need. THere is a ranger who is supposed to stay on the island but may or may not be there when you are there. Your campsite is on the backside, lagoon side of the island so is a bit of a trip to Big Drop around the island. Actually will be easier to get out near the coral gardens between New Drop and Virgin Hole as opposed to Big Drop for freediving. I would bring a kayak too.

You can also do some shopping of your own before you head out, both the big stores WCTC and Surangels have a full range of food etc

Have a blast and bring some rain gear....

Mike
 
Mike,

Thanks for the info, I am really looking forward to this.... Rain Gear will go on my list. Also now I can pinpoint Ngemelis Island on a map. If I remember correctly, Sam's boats go there for lunch between dives and New Drop is about twenty feet off the beach?
 
Actually, Big Drop is the one they anchor on for lunch a lot, it is a straight vertical drop off from about 5 feet of depth only about 20 feet from the beach. New Drop is further down on the corner where the current comes into play. Great hook dive with loads of sharks. I have some arial photos of the area, i can send you one on email if you want. PM me
 
Great thread! Can anyone detail their experiences with camping on these islands? For example, what are the choices, how do they vary in size, or is Ngemelis Island the only one? Most importantly, how about the rats? I imagine this might be a big problem on the "camp"-popular sites.
 
Cornelius1968:
Great thread! Can anyone detail their experiences with camping on these islands? For example, what are the choices, how do they vary in size, or is Ngemelis Island the only one? Most importantly, how about the rats? I imagine this might be a big problem on the "camp"-popular sites.


Rats? No one told me there would be Rats.
 
Tropical Ground Squirrels only i assure you....:)

Wouldn't worry about em.
Actually, Ngemilis is one of the least accesable islands. Some of the others closer to Koror are more common for camping, like Margies Beach. The popular spots are the day places like Two Dog and Ulong, and i am not sure if you can camp there overnight or not, most likely yes.

You have to get permission to overnight anywhere (the dive shop takes care of that) and camping is not so common as to make anyplace a mess
 

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