Palau trip suggestions please

[cozcharlie]

Hi, would you mind telling me more specifics? I can't seem to find local, non-resort shops. looking for land based

thanks.

The two main land operators catering to English speaking and European customers are Sam’s Tours and Fish N Fins . They have already been mentioned multiple times in this thread (while I assume both can do hotel packages , they are not normally thought of as resort operators since there clients come from multiple resorts). Neco Marine also does trips I believe but not sure their target market (Asian vs. Europe/Americas) . There are obviously some other operators that cater to Asian tourists but I am not sure of their names.

 

[Centrals]

Fish 'n Fins also has LoB(expensive).
I had done both land based and LoB and the latter is the only way for me personally.
By the time the day boats arrived at Blue Corner, all the strategic areas are packed with divers on reef hook.
It is a long long way to dive Peleliu and most land based operator just would not entertain the idea.

 

[Nic2750]

Hi, would you mind telling me more specifics? I can't seem to find local, non-resort shops. looking for land based

thanks.

I can recommend Cruise Control, Blue Marlin, Fish & Fins, and Sam's Tours. I bounce between them depending on my mood and their availability, and I've never had problems with any of them.

Cruise Control and Blue Marlin usually do 3 dives/day, while the others give the option to do either 2 or 3 dives. As a general rule, if the company you try is booked out on a given day, try one of the others - they all go to the same dive sites, they're all in the same general area (Malakal), and I believe all of them offer hotel pick up and drop off if you need it (I've never used it, but I've definitely seen them do it).

 

[Nic2750]

Fish 'n Fins also has LoB(expensive).
I had done both land based and LoB and the latter is the only way for me personally.
By the time the day boats arrived at Blue Corner, all the strategic areas are packed with divers on reef hook.
It is a long long way to dive Peleliu and most land based operator just would not entertain the idea.

I've dived both Peleliu and Angaur as boat dives departing from Malakal. The boats leave early, there's a surcharge (for extra fuel) and an extra permit (for Peleliu/Angaur), and you need a certain number of people to make it worth their while to go down there.

The shops I dive with will only take experienced divers to Peleliu or Angaur, but the definition of "experienced" varies between shops - some want to see you dive in a strong current (eg. Blue Corner) and will make a judgement call, while others want a certain number of logged dives. Other shops might have different criteria.

 

[Centrals]

The shops I dive with will only take experienced divers to Peleliu or Angaur, but the definition of "experienced" varies between shops - some want to see you dive in a strong current (eg. Blue Corner) and will make a judgement call, while others want a certain number of logged dives. Other shops might have different criteria.

Those nine divers were extremely lucky to be found together alive.

 

[kimster812]

Good morning all. First post but long time lurker.

Background. Dived a lot pre kids. UK and globally, have done liveaboards in Belize, Maldives, Galapagos, and Scapa, also various Red Sea and sipadan back when you could stay on the island and various other bits and bobs. Then kids came along, other priorities ensued. Kids both certified AOW, but only a few dive trips over that whole period. Now empty nesters and back at it. Malta and Red Sea so far this year. Maldives ( land based) at xmas with the kids too coming up. But now looking at wading through the diving “to do” list and planning some bigger trips just for the 2 of us. Fancy the far east for the first one. We have looked at various options and read a few reports and think Palau, rather than Raja Ampat in the far east. I’m more into the big stuff than sea horses and nudibranchs and my “photography” consists of occasionally pointing my go pro at things, if I haven’t left it in my dive gear box!

So that’s the background. Any suggestions ? We are thinking liveaboad, but it’s a long way to go ( from the UK) for 7 days so maybe a side trip too. I’ve read mixed reports of both the Agressor and the Siren, some glowing, some pretty bad, seems to be fairly polarised opinions.
Any recommendations of either or other liveaboard options? I’m assuming land based is a bit tricky there?

Also any options for a side trip, prob land based that would fit in either there or en route.

Not sure if you're still looking for options, but we're doing the Solitude Gaia in Palau in May! Not sure when you're looking to go? We're doing a week in the Philippines first, then flying to Palau since United has a flight between the two. Here's info about the trip: Designed for Scuba - Palau 2025 and Philippines: Designed for Scuba - Philippines 2025. Feel free to reach out, kim@designedforscuba.com. We have a super fun group joining, happy to have a few more join us!