Palau febr 2010?

[Scubadiver30]

Is February a good month to dive in Palau?? What can we expect ? Sharks, manta's etc??
Can someone give me a good address and price for diving?? ( liveaboard, hotels)
Thanks a lot!
Greetz Stijn from Belgium (Europe) :blinking:

 

[Kevrumbo]

Anytime other than Christmas/New Year's, and any major Japanese Holiday (too crowded in both instances) is a good time to go.

Here are some great landbased package deals, including roundtrip airfare from Manila Philippines. Also a good dive op/liveaboard combination that caters to Europeans is Fish 'n Fins and their Ocean Hunter Liveaboard Boats. . .

The hotel I usually stay at is the West Plaza (either Desekel in town, or Malakal near the harbor/port).

 

[Travelnsj]

Mid Feb thru May is the best time to go.....yep you will see Sharks, Mantas and a lot more.....I stay at the West Plaza Malakal and dive with Sams but Fish n Fins does cater to Europeans.

 

[Scubadiver30]

Thanks for the answers
But i have some more questions.
First i would stay by some friends in Guam.
Is there a cheap connection/flight to go to Palau or are there any packages from Guam to Palau where the flight is included??

 

[Travelnsj]

I have heard of another airline opening up to compete with Continental Micronesia....one failed a couple of years ago and someone was starting up a new one in the next year or two. Otherwise Continental is it! I would contact a company I used a few years ago....I think it was MDA based in Guam or Contact Sams Tours in Palau they should be able to give you a heads up.

 

[robint]

Is February a good month to dive in Palau?? What can we expect ? Sharks, manta's etc??
Can someone give me a good address and price for diving?? ( liveaboard, hotels)
Thanks a lot!
Greetz Stijn from Belgium (Europe) :blinking:

a couple more liveaboards:
Aggressor Fleet | The ultimate in live-aboards since 1984
Home - Liveaboard Scuba Diving in the Philippines and Palau

we did one of the Expedition Fleet boats, Dec 2007 and had a fabulous time! sharks, sharks and more sharks with 4-5 dives per day.
my trip report is here: Palau on the Eco Explorer - Dec 2007
my videos: http://www.vimeo.com/album/18777

robin

 

[Kevrumbo]

MDA (Micronesia Divers Association) packages from Guam. . .

 

[Scubadiver30]

Thanks for the information !!
Liveaboards seems a little bit too expensive
A alternative seems MDA diving so i'm gonna contact them for more information.
If there any other suggestions, you're welcome

Greetz Stijn

 

[Kevrumbo]

The boat ride to the dive sites from the land based dive ops is long (an hour or so), and has some of the best scenery in the world; however it can be cold, rough & wet in rainy weather & big seas outside the shelter of the Rock Islands (where you will be spending your surface interval/lunch on one of the islands). Bring a rain poncho. For exposure suit, I wore a 1mil full wetsuit with 2mil hooded vest for a water temp around 27deg C.

National Weather Service Forecast Office Guam Tropical Cyclone Web Page

 

[guamrider]

For many years the "economical" hotel was the West Plaza hotels. Now the new Sea Passion hotel is really a lot better and still very close to Sam's. I believe MDA has switched to them after their last hotel inspection trip.

I go there at least 2-3 times a year for a tv series and I stayed at the Palau Royal Resort the last time and it's VERY nice. Also right up the street near Sam's.


The advise on a rain jacket is spot on. All of the dive operators (even the liveaboards) use 25-35' boats with a top, but are exposed on all sides to wind. Considering that you're going very fast to and from the sites AND it 'sort of' rains sometimes there, a water proof jacket is a necessity.

You're gonna be on Continental so check their latest baggage restrictions. They are changing to only 1 bag allowed. Have fun.

Some Palau videos are here.