July: Palau/ Yap or Fakarava/ Rangiroa?

[Elling]

Me and my wife are planning summer holiday. We are considering the two options, but are unsure of how the diving and weather is in July. Any help?


Best regards

Elling

 

[maddmike]

Weather can be sketchy in Palau during July. We had a great trip at the end of July 2001. The week before was constantly stormy. The group on Eclipse (sailboat liveaboard) before us didn't get to dive at all. Bummer.

 

[robint]

Me and my wife are planning summer holiday. We are considering the two options, but are unsure of how the diving and weather is in July. Any help?


Best regards

Elling

Palau is amazing diving!
The rainy season for Palau is usually Aug-Oct when it will most likely rain every day. However, Palau is tropical and it can rain a little bit any day. We were there in Dec2007 and it rained off-and-on two days, the rest were sunny but we could see rain happening off in the distance. Weather in Palau is pretty stable with air temps in high 80s year-round and water temps 82-84 year-round.
Friends (two different couples) went to Yap and were disappointed, it wasn't as great as all the hype. Not bad, just not worth a special trip there they say. They would have preferred a full week in Palau and a few days of Yap at most. Especially after a week in Palau, Yap was pretty unimpressive.

I haven't been to Rangiroa but a good friend has been there and she wasn't impressed with the diving. The regular reefs were pretty beat up and lifeless, the only really good dives were the shark dives and they got old after a couple of days. It was very expensive there too so she said for the money she would have preferred to go elsewhere and have more variety.

robin

 

[Elling]

Thank you for the info. I'm still not sure what to choose. Is there any other good options? We are looking for a place that has great diving, high standard, possibility to do other activities as well.
We have about 14 days so we can do two locations that are close.

Anybody know if the polynesian islands are ok during July?

Elling

 

[dbeitz]

Hi Elling, Please take a look at a post that I just put on "Diving in Micronesia in April or May" it should be located very close to yours. It is about diving in Kosrae, Micronesia, & may be of interest to you.

 

[Travelnsj]

The weather can be very iffy in July for Palau.....better to go in the spring.....I have been to Rangiroa as robint said it can become redundant (but well worth it) plan that for 3 dive days but one of the most beautiful island I have ever seen. Fakarava diving was amazing and water temps up to 85....I was at both islands in December I believe July would be cooler water but not aware of weather problems.

I have a trip report posted back in January 07 and was in Undercurrent in June 07.