Palau in May?

[jfcl01]

Does anyone have any advice/experience about the dive conditions and weather in May? Also, someone once advised me that there is one particular time of year to avoid Palau because of crowds due to a Japanese holdiay....but I dont remember when that was....anyone know?

 

[jake11]

Just found this.... Avoid key Asian holiday periods (Japanese especially like to flock to Palau over
their Golden Week holidays (around last week of April/first week of May) & New ...
http://www.igougo.com/journal-j2768-Palau Not good news for your timing.

 

[jfcl01]

thanks for your response and research

 

[guamrider]

Hi, We send at least 200 divers there all year long. Palau is very busy from mid November to the end of May, then over the summer it drops off a little. Having said that you will always have at least 4-8 boats at every popular dive site. Unless you are on an early morning liveaboard boat dive that's the norm now.

The summer is the "quiet" time to go and (I think) the best time. Very smooth seas most of the time, mostly sunny every day. For some reason Palau has the reputation of having very rainy weather in the summer, and that simply isn't true any more with the shift of weather patterns out here. Lots of general info on diving and visiting Palau is here:
Palau Travelers Information

 

[soundfield]

Would going mid April miss the busy holidays?

 

[guamrider]

Not really. From Jan-June 1 most of the hotels charge their "high season" rates as this is their busy time. Do you have your hotel/dive reservations?

 

[jfcl01]

Not really. From Jan-June 1 most of the hotels charge their "high season" rates as this is their busy time. Do you have your hotel/dive reservations?

nope not yet

 

[guamrider]

Hi again, Almost all of the hotels in Palau, with a few exceptions, lower their rates back down to normal on June 1. What type of accomodations are you looking for? If your only going to use is as a place to sleep and shower you can get a very good, basic room with tv, cable, phone, a/c, fan, refrigerator, etc. for $27.50 a night (2 sharing). No view, no beach, but quite good. You also might want to check here:
Palau: Palau Travel Planner