koror or Peleliu

[eugeni]

I’ve been to Palau once only for 4days of diving. This time I plan2weeks of Palau diving.
I wonder whether I should stay Koror or Peleliu.
I don’t like long boat riding especially when it’s rainy and windylike my last trip. LOB is out of my budget range.
I like remote place and doesn’t enjoy night life a lot. I prefer tostay at Peleliu.
My only concern is that whether all diving sites are really accessibleand convenient from Peleliu.
If I stay at Peleliu can I still try all those good diving sites inPalau?
Why some folks say that only 2dives per day possible in Peleliu?
Do restaurants in Peleliu provide good foods?
If I want to cook, does grocery store provide enough foods?
How can I book lodging in Peleliu?
In my last trip a Japanese owned dive shop took me blue corner andGerman channel almost every day, because many guests want to go there. Ofcourse, these are the best dive sites in Palau. But when I have 2 weeks ofdiving in Palau, I think I want to try more good diving sits as much aspossible. Actually this problem bothers me wherever I dive. When I’m not incharter, most dive shops go to the same place again and again, no diversity. IfI change dive shops for diving sites, moving heavy diving gear and discount fordiving package is another problem. How should I face this problem in Palau?
Could you please recommend diving sites that I must try for my Palaudiving?
Please also recommend good budget diving operations in Palau.
Your information will give me happy diving tour.

 

[Banyan]

My only concern is that whether all diving sites are really accessibleand convenient from Peleliu.
If I stay at Peleliu can I still try all those good diving sites inPalau?

Peleliu is far south in the islands. It is possible to do dives in the center of the chain, like German Channel and Blue Corner, from the North Dock, but most people go to Peleliu to do Peleliu dives out of the South Dock. Dives in the north, like Siaes Corner and Ulong Channel are not feasible.

Why some folks say that only 2dives per day possible in Peleliu?

This is not true. There is at least one dive operation that will do up to five shore-based dives a day.

Do restaurants in Peleliu provide good foods?

Peleliu is *small*. The main restaurants are those associated with the dive shops, and you have to tell the cook when you want your meal beforehand. There are a couple small places run by locals, but they are closed at weird times.

If I want to cook, does grocery store provide enough foods?

You can get the basics, at least enough for a basic pasta, but anything complicated is probably not possible.

How can I book lodging in Peleliu?

Normally through your dive shop.

In my last trip a Japanese owned dive shop took me blue corner andGerman channel almost every day, because many guests want to go there. Ofcourse, these are the best dive sites in Palau. But when I have 2 weeks ofdiving in Palau, I think I want to try more good diving sits as much aspossible. Actually this problem bothers me wherever I dive. When I’m not incharter, most dive shops go to the same place again and again, no diversity. IfI change dive shops for diving sites, moving heavy diving gear and discount fordiving package is another problem. How should I face this problem in Palau?

Go to a small shop in the off-season, so you have a bigger vote in where to go. Also, I think there are at least three dives off of southern Peleliu that I liked more than Blue Hole. I wasn't impressed with German Channel at all.

Could you please recommend diving sites that I must try for my Palaudiving?

Assuming you are an advanced diver, Peleliu Express and Peleliu Wall are both mind-blowing. If you are going out of Koror, Siaes Corner/Wall was spectacular. I hear Ulong Channel is also special, but the currents weren't right when I was there.

Please also recommend good budget diving operations in Palau.

Off Peleliu, the English-speaking operations are Maml Divers (link) and Peleliu Divers (link). If you speak Japanese, you have more options, like DayDream (link), but I don't know those well.

 

[guamrider]

How can I book lodging in Peleliu?

Please also recommend good budget diving operations in Palau. Could you please recommend diving sites that I must try for my Palau diving?

Here's a web site that has lots of information in diving in Palau with links to hotels, dive operators, etc. Palau Specials

There are also 21 videos on diving on Palau here: Palau on Vimeo
Hope this helps you.

 

[farsidefan1]

I have been to the Blue Corner 4 times and it is a terrific site, but my favorite Palau dive site is the Ulong Channel. I know that Sam's tours sends out a 3 tank boat every day (at LEAST one). Pay in advance and that way you won't have to fight to get on that boat (some who did not pay in advance may try to fill the boat but if you have already paid... you're on period) You can follow that up with unlimited shore diving. They have some mandarin fish right out in front.. Also I did not have much problem with repeat sites. Ok, I wanted to repeat some of them but over 2 weeks I hit a great variety of different dive locales. There are a number of places to eat on Koror. I don't know about setting up shop on Peleliu. I hit all those sites from the Aggressor although Sam's went out there too. Carp island has accomodations although they cater more to the Japanese clientele.

 

[bracko]

Ulong is quite nice, but Peleliu (express and wall) are really special... being 25m down and having the colour of a 10m dive is something else... honestly i thought my (two) depth gauges were broken at one point.

the life in the area (Peleliu) is amazing as well, you name it we saw it (except for v.large pelagic)

Ulong has some really nice areas as well, don't get me wrong, but after Peleliu it just lost its gleam. although i do love the fact that you don't need to fin for 400+m down the channel, just drift in the channel and see the vast changes in life.

Peleliu express from what the locals told us after the dive is quite a dangerous dive when the current is really ripping, muck it up and you can be caught in a downdraft strong enough to push your bubbles down with you. I'm not sure how true all the stories were, but if I'd heard them before i dived it I would have stuck a lot closer to the guide.

as for accom, i think a mix of the two would suit to be honest. Peleliu is VERY quiet, unless you have a group of people going with you to make entertainment, I'd take a few good books.