Diving FSM and Palau.

[BC nu diving]

Hello there to all on SB. I have been reading all of your posts for days and now feel good about posting for info. You can tell where my interests are by my heading.
In specific I would like to know about your personal experience with the Thorfinn in Chuuk. Also, have you good suggestions as to where to stay on Yap and in Palau if we want to go Budget/Mid range.
I would also like to know about LDS's that made your trip and maybe the odd restaurant review or two.
I really have researched all of this but now to make it complete I would like your experience. The real problem I am having is timing. Getting to/from Diveboats and hotels on time and finding space for April/May.
Thanks to all and thanks for this board! James.:14:

 

[+Jon+]

Hello james
I got back from chuuk and palau a couple weeks ago, i was on the thorfinn in chuuk and the ocean hunter in palau. If you like wrecks you will LOVE chuuk it is some of the best diving i have ever done the thorfinn is a great setup especially now that lance has the flashy new RIBs very comfy and fast, there was only 1 other with me on the boat during my stay, lance is pretty flexible with dates. Just email him and he can sort it for you the food isnt that great but considering where thay are etc its ok and plenty of it the one negative thing that i can think of is cpt Lance himself...he is quite old and so has some pretty strong opinons on just about anything so its best to keep mealtime conversations light. The diving is fantastic however and thats all that matter right
I dont know if i can help you to much with palau, i was on the ocean hunter and thats not really budget....the diving was ok lots of walls zzzzzzz but if youre cavern trained check out the sites Temple of Doom, at the back of blue holes, very impressive, and ulong channel which is a excellent dive and night dive mikes place. i had a great time on the boat great crew. As for restaraunts in palau i reccomend the Taj its excellent, and so is the little bbq place beside it, avoid the mexican one a little up the road...it sucks. Theres really not that much to do on land in palau even less in chuuk, and only one beach in palau i think, at the PPR which is great if youre staying there but 25$ if youre not!! i sneaked in with friends staying there
Hope this helps any questions?

 

[chuck e]

We just came back from a group trip to Palau. Dove with Neco Marine. Excellent operation with little bad to say about them. We stayed 200yds from the marina at the West Plaza Malakal, nothing fancy, clean, A/C, refrig. Our group paid about $80/nite. Neco will store your gear, so the short walk should be no problem. Restaurants nearby are Palm Bay Bistro located next to the hotel. Breakfast discount can be obtained from the hotel. A short walk is Kramers and a Japanese restaurant right next to it which also was good. The Drop Off Grill also close by in the Neco Plaza has adequate food. Neco also runs a free evening shuttle into Koror which also offers may other choices. Stick with the local fresh catch when possible (wahoo, tuna) and you can't go wrong.

 

[Cacia]

West Plaza Malakal, nothing fancy, clean, A/C, refrig. Our group paid about $80/nite.

I love that place... best breakfast at the Red Rooster(on site)..walk to Kramer's for fresh fish dinner. Our ground floor room was huge...all very modern with pergo floors and cootie-free. Coffee makers...very nice tele..great bargain.

Operators will take you into the Temple of Doom even if not cavern certified. Not saying thats good...just that they do.

Lots of turtle skeletons.

I'd skip jellyfish lake and do Blue Corner and Big Drop off, new Drop Off over and over, they seem different each time with all the pelagics.

 

[BC nu diving]

Thanks for the info. I may like my convos with Capt. Lance. I am glad you mentioned the Mex restaurant as I would have gone there. Been diving in Cenotes in Mex and believe cavern diving to be different than cave diving. How was the Ocean Hunter as we may do it and why the zzzzzzzz's on the wall dives?
I had Neco Marine recommended to me by Trip'n Tour and glad to here they were good. I will check out the West Plaza Malakal on your recom. I like a great breakfast before diving or anytime. Catherine 96821 I checked out your site and I will recommend it to all especially it your are going to Hawaii. I wanted to go to jeyylfish lake but will consider your recommendation as I hear those dives are great and would do them twice. Thanks t Mike Veitch at Manta Ray Bay for getting back to me as well.
PS. Snowing for 24hrs straight here and that is very unusual unless you go to the mountains. It looks great! I think I will ski tomorrow:>

 

[Gdeever]

James,
I have been to Yap, Palau and Chuck twice.. and would go back a third time... However, the thorofin... nah.. never would step foot on it.. it looks like a dilapitated tug boat, it is slow...and perhaps not the best of experiences for Truk. Slow.. it took over an hour for it to "get going'.

Yap... Contact Randy at the Long Beach Museum of Art (Long Beach, CAlifornia). Tell him Denise sent you... he is the manager for the owner of a hotel in Yap.

Enjoy...

 

[dab]

I've been on the both boats in Chuuk. They run different operations, and I wouldn't hesitate to dive again with either. Captain Lance is a lot of fun, and you will get to dive to your hearts content. He will take good care of you and the crew is outstanding. The boat is old, but has a lot of character and is well suited for it's current use.
There are only a couple of places to stay in Yap. Traders Ridge is the nicest, although the most expensive. I can't think of the name of the other place, but a quick google will provide the info. Travel is expensive in this part of the world and it is difficult to do these type of trips on a "budget", as you will spend major dollars no matter how you cut it.

 

[CARHILL]

The other place in Yap is Manta Ray Inn Manta Ray Divers is in there. Also they make their own beer!!! yum yum

Dale
Still on a little Rock in the Pacific

 

[Mike Veitch]

Its properly called the Manta Ray Bay Hotel and Yap Divers...

you can click on the link in my sig if you like....

 

[+Jon+]

Been diving in Cenotes in Mex and believe cavern diving to be different than cave diving. How was the Ocean Hunter as we may do it and why the zzzzzzzz's on the wall dives?

Yes cave and cavern are different, i was told a cavern rating was min to go in temple, thats why i mentioned it. No one else on OH had anything beyond divemaster so i had to go it solo....which suited me.
The ocean hunter is Fantastic the crew Troy,6a and chet are really made the trip for me, chet is one of the best liveaboard cooks ever and he will do anything you want. Poor bugger just works his *** off. You do 5 dives a day and do every site in the lonely planet guide, which is pretty hardcase. You do the big sites that catherine mentioned several times more if you request. did blue corner 3-4 times the best time being after doing the temple of doom then drifting down to the corner, i noticed that the stronger the current the more action i was using twins. As for the walls....theres alot of them and they get a bit boring. Dont think that will be a issue for you if doing dayboats. I would highly recommend OH1 to divers of all levels, the guiding is excellent the food even better and the guys are great. But if youre going on as a couple get the state room as its the only decent sized room. To be honest i didnt find the diving that great...just my opinion...i know theres plenty of ppl on here that rave about palau and will no doubt post about how great it is now.

I will check out the West Plaza Malakal on your recom.

I spent a few days on land staying at the westplaza deskal, big room air con big store downstairs right in the middle of town...but spent most time at PPR on the beach
If you dont mind the $ go the OH1 its great