palau -- what do we need to know?

[ljwobker]

My sis-in-law is a Navy doc and stationed in Guam for a couple of years. We're planning on doing a trip to Guam over the xmas holidays to see her and do some diving -- main attraction is probably a 4-6 day trip to palau. I'm looking for any suggestions on:

1) are there decent package deals to get from Guam <--> Palau, or does it make more sense to book the flights separately from the diving?

2) any recommendations (or anti-recommendations - hopefully not...) on operators and/or boats, etc?

3) liveaboard vs. shore/boat diving? I haven't done much research on Palau so I'm hoping someone here can help.

If there's a FAQ somewhere with this info, please point me to it... an initial search didn't find me what I was looking for.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Try the Guam dive-ops and Micronesia travel specialist MDA. . .

A liveaboard puts you right at Blue Corner or any of the wall dive sites first around 8am, right about the time the land-based dive ops from Koror are shoving-off (they arrive an hour or so later). For a land based dive op, the boat ride & sightseeing from Koror through the Rock Islands is spectacular, but it can also be a long cold and rough ride out & back in bad weather.

Also, try not to go if you can, during Xmas or any major Japanese Holiday (much too crowded with too many divers). . .

 

[Damselfish]

I would do a liveaboard, but I don't think any of the Palau liveaboards do less than 7 nights?

 

[Kevrumbo]

Expedition Fleet Liveaboard has a Flexi-Dive Palau Schedule (minimum 2 dive days with 4 passengers). . .

 

[sanjac]

Best bet is Micronesian Divers Association (MDA) based out of Guam. They can get you a much cheaper airline flight than you can get elsewhere. They work with Sam's Tours in Palau, which is a great outfit. You can get a package deal, customized for as many days and dives as you want. Unless you are really curious about Palau's culture and history, skip the city tour - not really worth it. I did the trip in June and it was fantastic. MDA has a web page (I think it is MDAguam.com) and they have a FaceBook page (MDA Guam Divers).

 

[UKdreamer]

You might be interested in the Eclipse liveaboard operated out of Sams Tours as it's just 6 nights rather than the usual 7.

It's a bit different to the rest - sailing boat without the crowds of divers. They have kayaks on board too and visit jelly fish lake.

Can't give you a personal recommendation (yet) but I've booked myself on it for early next year.

 

[bryantp]

Hook up with MDA. They rock. Diane can set you up for any tours and they have great pricing and local knowledge.

 

[robint]

My sis-in-law is a Navy doc and stationed in Guam for a couple of years. We're planning on doing a trip to Guam over the xmas holidays to see her and do some diving -- main attraction is probably a 4-6 day trip to palau. I'm looking for any suggestions on:

1) are there decent package deals to get from Guam <--> Palau, or does it make more sense to book the flights separately from the diving?

2) any recommendations (or anti-recommendations - hopefully not...) on operators and/or boats, etc?

3) liveaboard vs. shore/boat diving? I haven't done much research on Palau so I'm hoping someone here can help.

If there's a FAQ somewhere with this info, please point me to it... an initial search didn't find me what I was looking for.

do a liveaboard, here is my trip report:
Palau on the Eco Explorer - Dec 2007
we did the Eco Explorer, sister to Big Blue Explorer (which was having renovations done when we were there, so I think the Big Blue is back in Palau)
other liveaboards to look at - Palau Aggressor and Ocean Hunter
Aggressor: Palau, Big Drop-Off, Blue Corner, Blue Holes, Chandelier Caves, Denges Passage
Scuba Diving with Palau's True Liveaboards Ocean Hunter
Palau - Liveaboard Scuba Diving in the Philippines and Palau

robin

 

[guamrider]

MDA is having a 4-5 day trip there in late Nov and also send tons of divers throughout the year. Check their travel pages, and there's quite a few Palau videos at Guam Dive Videos, Video Production, and Travel.

 

[Scared Silly]

We did the Eclipse (sailing and diving) for 10 days this summer and had a very nice time. We also dove with Sam's one day (U-lung Channel - one of my 10 best dives for fun) There is no real shore diving as everything is 45+ minute boat ride from Koror or 10-15+ minutes from Peleliu. Koror is okay for a couple of days. For my return we would head to Peleliu and use Dolphin Day Divers. Being associated with the military seeing the island of Peleliu is worth while.