Chuuk and Palau - When?

[dougaldiver]

After many years of talking about it We are now geting ready to book at trip to Chuuk and Palau for early in 2009. From a timing point of view we can travel anywhere from early January through to late March and I'm wondering when is the best time to go.

Due to the length of travel time (and the cost) this is likely to be a trip of a lifetime so I really would like to go at the best time possible.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Boxcar Overkill]

For Palau, March > January, though it might not make that much difference.

You might want to consider if Chuuk would add that much to your trip, considering that Palau has some good wrecks along with their reefs. I think there's actually more WWII wrecks here than in Chuuk, but I would want to google that claim.

There's no cheap ticket between Chuuk and Palau - you have to go through Guam. So you could save some money buy just diving Palau. Unless you just want to go to Chuuk.

 

[Mike Veitch]

wrecks in Chuuk are superior to those in palau for marine growth and usually viz.

I would second the jan to march april window for Palau for sure, thats the time for schooling surgeonfish and moorish idols, which in turn brings about more shark action. full or new moon is usually the best time for this stuff, feb full moon is a good one.

be warned, it is the busiest season there though. try to avoid new years, chinese new year and golden week as it can get crowded then.

 

[dougaldiver]

Thanks for the help guys. We really are keen on going to Chuuk. It's one of the places we always said we would do when we could find the time.

I'm glad that Jan to Mar is a good time to go as that's pretty much our window of opportunity. Any thoughts on whether it would be better to go earlier (early in January) or later (late March)?

Mike. I believe Golden week is end of April and earlier May, is that right?

 

[Boxcar Overkill]

1. I defer to Mike on the wreck diving, as I don't have experience in that area. I was only repreating what I had heard.
2. March is a great time to come. Japan's golden week is the first week of May. Taiwan is a little different, but I'm not sure when. There's a lot of tourist from both countries here though.