FredGarvin
Contributor
Just returned from one week in Palau. PPR - as mentioned before - beautiful setting, excellent service, good food, great beach, fabulous pool and pricey... of course. The rooms were okay, clean but a bit small and very simply furnished. I would definitely recommend the place especially if one travels with a discerning female... or male too for that matter. Dove with Sam's. What an operation. The dive center was somewhat run down. Taxis and shuttle buses would back up to park near the tank filling station, belching out black putrid exhaust into the adjoining area. The employees were helpful, polite, organized and knowledgable. Daniel our DM, was very, very professional. He did a great job. The dive boats were small and uncomfortable. With enough divers onboard, it became a chore trying to maneuver around the gear and dive bags crowded on the floor. There was no place to sit that would give any back support nor "tush" padding for the one hour ride to the sites. If there was rain, which we had several times, there was no protection and so everyone laid stretched out on the floor of the boat and protected themselves from the driving rain by wrapping their faces with towels. There was, however, O2 and safety gear on board, which was good. Finally, one always had to ask for help to stand up after mounting one's gear. The boat captain would sit there and watch while some of us struggled with mounting our BC's and gear until we asked for help. A little pro active effort would have gone a long way for customer appreciation. Again, I am not saying they did a bad job, I am simply suggesting that some investment in equipment, design and thought would be good thing. Finally, the food for lunch - as said in common parlance - sucked! The sandwiches were small, tasteless, wet, and devoid of meat. Almost all bread. The "Asian and Sushi " plates were a bit better but they all tasted the same after four days and were a real disappointment. No snacks. The bare minimum of drinks and sodas on board. We would frequently run out of drinks except for the water bottle.
Overall, Sam's was good but they have room for much improvement. I would probably dive with them again, but only after checking out other dive operations first.
Garv
Overall, Sam's was good but they have room for much improvement. I would probably dive with them again, but only after checking out other dive operations first.
Garv
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