Palau or Fiji?

[bluespotocto]

I want to do a live aboard in either palua of fiji but need some help deciding. I love coral reefs covered with anthias and macro critters and an avid photographer. I also enjoy the pelagics but like macro diving a little more (barely). The time frame of going is from july 2012- august 2012. Is that a good time frame for either of those spots for diving? If I decided palua I am debating wether the dancer fleet or aggresser fleet, I know they are the same now but which boat is better? From my research I have found that the only live aboard in fiji is the dancer. Is there other ones and is the dancer boat in fiji nice? My last big dive trip was to Papua New Guinea on the dancer fleet boat and I absoulutly LOVED IT! One day I had spent 6.5 hours underwater!! I was pruny. If there was more pelagics in Papua New Guinea then I dont think I would have ever came back. So I would love your opinions on where and what I should do for my next trip.

Thanks:ar15:

 

[bluespotocto]

*I am an avid photographer

 

[bluespotocto]

Any one?????

 

[shawrg]

I want to do a live aboard in either palua of fiji but need some help deciding. I love coral reefs covered with anthias and macro critters and an avid photographer. I also enjoy the pelagics but like macro diving a little more (barely). The time frame of going is from july 2012- august 2012. Is that a good time frame for either of those spots for diving? If I decided palua I am debating wether the dancer fleet or aggresser fleet, I know they are the same now but which boat is better? From my research I have found that the only live aboard in fiji is the dancer. Is there other ones and is the dancer boat in fiji nice? My last big dive trip was to Papua New Guinea on the dancer fleet boat and I absoulutly LOVED IT! One day I had spent 6.5 hours underwater!! I was pruny. If there was more pelagics in Papua New Guinea then I dont think I would have ever came back. So I would love your opinions on where and what I should do for my next trip.

Thanks:ar15:

I was on the aggressor in Palau and the two boats were docked side by side. Physically, The two boats appeared identical to me.

The fiji island dancer is a smaller boat; ten passengers five crew. I liked the single dining table and how it brought all of the guests together. After a few meals together everyone was like family. However, gearing up was a little awkward. Because the dive deck was so small, y[-][/-]ou had to put your wetsuit & booties on before walking down the stairs to the dive deck to put the rest of your gear on.

Either location would provide for great photos. Personally, I lean towards the soft coral and macro life of Fiji.

 

[DeputyDan]

Liveaboard Scuba Diving on NAI'A - Fiji and Beyond

Optional Fiji choice.

 

[shmuggy]

I have been to both places- to Fiji on the Island Dancer and to Palau on the Ocean Hunter. Both are great boats with good crews. I found Fiji to be more colorful than any other place I have been but you probably won't see sharks until they do the shark dives. You will see sharks in Palau. Really- both places are great and so are both boats.

 

[RoyN]

I second Naia if diving in Fiji

 

[bbarada]

I have done both. Fiji on a liveaboard and two land based operations. Palau on the Aggressor II. It's close, but Palau wins IMHO. A mix of corals and pelagics, and huge schools of fish. My wife said it best: "After Palau everything else will look like a desert."

 

[bluespotocto]

I really want to do palua but I have heard that there is not a lot of macro there. Is this true? Mostly sharks and manta rays. Do you still get the huge plating corals and giant stag horn colonies?

 

[bbarada]

A lot of coral. At Ulong Gardens there is no place to put your finger that has no coral. Lots of macro stuff too.