Dive High-Energy, Picture Perfect Palau,
Micronesia on The Palau Aggressor II!
Join Optical Ocean Sales owner Jack Connick for an amazing photo safari to Palau in Micronesia, November 16 through the 28th, 2013. Our extended 10 night, 8.5 dive day expedition will be staying on the luxurious liveaboard Palau Aggressor II, based out of Koror, Palau.Micronesia on The Palau Aggressor II!
We will explore the waters in and around the mushroom-shaped rock islands of Palau. Dive sites will include WWII wrecks, German Channel, Ulong Channel and the famous Blue Corner Micronesias most famous shark dive. The vessel is a spacious, comfortable catamaran. Stretching 106 feet, 31 feet wide and accommodates 18 guests who are pampered by a crew of 8! Deluxe cabins are en-suite with a/c. Diving is conducted from a 30 launch.
Optical Ocean Sales is working closely with the Aggressor for a special dive trip that will emphasize photo opportunities. The Aggressor and its panga have excellent photo facilities. Well be able to have smaller groups, and multiple dives on the same site (as warranted). Well be giving seminars, group photo critiques, and be available to help you get the most out of your trip.
Mantas in German Channel, Giant Napoleon wrasse, turtles, large schools of barracuda, huge tridacna clams and schools of small fish like trevally, triangle butterflyfish, and countless sharks are also on the agenda of critters to view. You also have an opportunity to step back in time and visit the island of Peleliu, site of one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific during WWII: Bloody Nose Ridge, as well as dive the more southern sites there. Other unique diving opportunities are available at Jellyfish Lake and Chandelier Caves.
Here are some dive log excerpts from a previous trip:
Palau is very pretty; hundreds of smallish, low, rounded limestone islands covered in growth against stunning blue green water. It sits out in the ocean directly at the junction of the Philippine Sea and The North Pacific Ocean. Weather was a bit humid, warm in 80s. Water temp around 85F. Viz an easy 100+.
The first day on these trips is usually a warm up and the first dive was at Turtle Cove - a very nice wall without too much current. Saw lots of fish life, lots of variety. Lots of big stuff. There were whole schools of black tip reef sharks and a few white tips - very docile fish during the day. Hawksbill turtles that were tame and would come right up to you if you stayed still and didn't blow too many bubbles. On the way back, we stopped off to snorkel at Jellyfish Lake, where there are thousands of non-stinging jellyfish landlocked in a brackish lake. Wow, that was a warm up?
The second day we dove "Blue Corner". High current on the edge of the reef. On the edge of open water. They give you a reef hook on a line which you clip to yourself then you set in the rocks add a little air to your B.C. You just sit there in the current taking pictures of big 'ol Grey Reef Sharks, schools of Barracuda and White Tip Sharks, huge Napoleon Wrasse and all sorts of stuff swimming by in the blue. Second dive was Blue Holes; grottoes with several entrances, a huge cavern, and a cave they call the "Temple of Doom", as turtles get stuck in it and die. Awesome diving.
The third day we dove Ngemilis Wall. A deep wall, with cut ins and lots of growth including soft coral and friendly blue finned trevally would come up to play. Also saw turtles, several white-tip sharks and a clown triggerfish. The second dive was Big Drop Off. It turned out to be the best dive I had, with large gorgonians fans, cup and soft coral which were all open. I also saw a glowing red fire anemone, as well as the usual white-tips and much more."
Your Liveaboard Dive Trip Includes:
Mantas in German Channel, Giant Napoleon wrasse, turtles, large schools of barracuda, huge tridacna clams and schools of small fish like trevally, triangle butterflyfish, and countless sharks are also on the agenda of critters to view. You also have an opportunity to step back in time and visit the island of Peleliu, site of one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific during WWII: Bloody Nose Ridge, as well as dive the more southern sites there. Other unique diving opportunities are available at Jellyfish Lake and Chandelier Caves.
Here are some dive log excerpts from a previous trip:
Palau is very pretty; hundreds of smallish, low, rounded limestone islands covered in growth against stunning blue green water. It sits out in the ocean directly at the junction of the Philippine Sea and The North Pacific Ocean. Weather was a bit humid, warm in 80s. Water temp around 85F. Viz an easy 100+.
The first day on these trips is usually a warm up and the first dive was at Turtle Cove - a very nice wall without too much current. Saw lots of fish life, lots of variety. Lots of big stuff. There were whole schools of black tip reef sharks and a few white tips - very docile fish during the day. Hawksbill turtles that were tame and would come right up to you if you stayed still and didn't blow too many bubbles. On the way back, we stopped off to snorkel at Jellyfish Lake, where there are thousands of non-stinging jellyfish landlocked in a brackish lake. Wow, that was a warm up?
The second day we dove "Blue Corner". High current on the edge of the reef. On the edge of open water. They give you a reef hook on a line which you clip to yourself then you set in the rocks add a little air to your B.C. You just sit there in the current taking pictures of big 'ol Grey Reef Sharks, schools of Barracuda and White Tip Sharks, huge Napoleon Wrasse and all sorts of stuff swimming by in the blue. Second dive was Blue Holes; grottoes with several entrances, a huge cavern, and a cave they call the "Temple of Doom", as turtles get stuck in it and die. Awesome diving.
The third day we dove Ngemilis Wall. A deep wall, with cut ins and lots of growth including soft coral and friendly blue finned trevally would come up to play. Also saw turtles, several white-tip sharks and a clown triggerfish. The second dive was Big Drop Off. It turned out to be the best dive I had, with large gorgonians fans, cup and soft coral which were all open. I also saw a glowing red fire anemone, as well as the usual white-tips and much more."
Your Liveaboard Dive Trip Includes:
- Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles*
- 10 nights shared deluxe cabins onboard the Palau Aggressor II
- All meals & beverages onboard - including alcoholic!
- 8.5 days diving - tanks, weights. Nitrox is optional at only $150.
- 1 night lodging at The Sea Passion Hotel
- $200/pp Port fee included! Transfers included!*
The cost for this great adventure is only $5895!*
A non-refundable, but transferable* deposit of $1000 holds your spot!
To signup or for more information go to: Palau Dive Trip
or Download the Trip Flyer Here.
*Airfare is estimated at about $2100, but may vary; we will book early in 2013. Air fare is a group rate based on 10 people departing Los Angeles. $150 for Nitrox for entire trip. $140 State & Park licenses and $50 Departure taxes are not included. Deposits are non-refundable, but transferable to another person. Note; Optical Ocean Sales, LLC is not a direct seller of dive travel; we work with the travel experts at Reef & Rainforest Travel to arrange the best photo dive expeditions possible.
A non-refundable, but transferable* deposit of $1000 holds your spot!
To signup or for more information go to: Palau Dive Trip
or Download the Trip Flyer Here.
*Airfare is estimated at about $2100, but may vary; we will book early in 2013. Air fare is a group rate based on 10 people departing Los Angeles. $150 for Nitrox for entire trip. $140 State & Park licenses and $50 Departure taxes are not included. Deposits are non-refundable, but transferable to another person. Note; Optical Ocean Sales, LLC is not a direct seller of dive travel; we work with the travel experts at Reef & Rainforest Travel to arrange the best photo dive expeditions possible.
