ScubaMichael
Registered
Hi: I am thinking going to Palau end of January or February and I am wondering if this is a good time to see sharks. And: What is the best liveaboard in Palau? Thanks
Palau
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pakman
Contributor
you'll get plenty of sharks... We were out in Feb and had shark overload... 
As for liveaboards, I was on the Pacific Explorer. Not the best out there but enjoyed the trip (was the only liveaboard we could get spots on!). Always hear good things about the Aggressor and the Big Blue Explorer. If you prefer a smaller group, try the excellent Ocean Hunter II. Book early, that's peak season and the boats fill up quickly!
As for liveaboards, I was on the Pacific Explorer. Not the best out there but enjoyed the trip (was the only liveaboard we could get spots on!). Always hear good things about the Aggressor and the Big Blue Explorer. If you prefer a smaller group, try the excellent Ocean Hunter II. Book early, that's peak season and the boats fill up quickly!
Travelnsj
Contributor
I do not do liveaboards...I have heard the Ocean hunter and the Aggressor are the best....I have gone to Palau every year since 99.....will you see Sharks???....LOL....at times more than you can count!....Mid Feb thru May is the best time to go....if you need any other info ask away.
I did a season out there and the best time for sharks was December. It was Grey Reef mating season and they were everywhere - esp. at Blue Corner. There were many big females with 'battle scars' gliding about in the current with two or three smaller males cruising right behind. You'll see lots of sharks whenever you go though. December through February was also the best months for mantas.
As far as which boat, I'd avoid the Aggressor and check out the Ocean Hunter boats, and the Big Blue is worth looking into too.
As far as which boat, I'd avoid the Aggressor and check out the Ocean Hunter boats, and the Big Blue is worth looking into too.
robint
Contributor
when we were looking for a trip a few months ago I discovered that the Aggressor was already booked Dec-Mar! So we opted for the Big Blue Explorer for first week in Dec. The Pacific Explorer is the sister ship of the BBE... if they have 4-8 people they use it, if there are 9-18 people booked they use the Big Blue Explorer.
I have been told by friends that the BBE is way better than the Aggressor because there are two chase boats/dive groups rather than all 18 people crammed onto one like the Aggressor... meaning at the dive sites you have smaller group. They time the 2 boats to leave at 10-15 minute intervals or they go to diff sites. Never have a full boat of divers on top of each other.
As far as liveaboards go, this will be our second. We did the Nekton last year and loved it. Waaaay easier than doing land-based diving and also twice as many dives each day are possible. Especially for a place like Palau where the hotels are over an hour away from the dive sites, this is a BIG consideration. Some people have told me 2 dives per day in Palau are fine... but if I am going half-way around the world and spending $$$ for airfare, I want the most bang for my buck. BBE schedule has 4-5 dives per day for 6 days! So if you average out the cost of the trip and # of dives, it is a better deal than land-based. Plus all the meals are included, you just dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, sleep, repeat!
Just my 2cents.
robint
4 months to BBE!
I have been told by friends that the BBE is way better than the Aggressor because there are two chase boats/dive groups rather than all 18 people crammed onto one like the Aggressor... meaning at the dive sites you have smaller group. They time the 2 boats to leave at 10-15 minute intervals or they go to diff sites. Never have a full boat of divers on top of each other.
As far as liveaboards go, this will be our second. We did the Nekton last year and loved it. Waaaay easier than doing land-based diving and also twice as many dives each day are possible. Especially for a place like Palau where the hotels are over an hour away from the dive sites, this is a BIG consideration. Some people have told me 2 dives per day in Palau are fine... but if I am going half-way around the world and spending $$$ for airfare, I want the most bang for my buck. BBE schedule has 4-5 dives per day for 6 days! So if you average out the cost of the trip and # of dives, it is a better deal than land-based. Plus all the meals are included, you just dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, sleep, repeat!
Just my 2cents.
robint
4 months to BBE!
You get to see more sites from a liveaboard too. And you get the top sites (Blue Corner etc.) to yourself. The day boats all arrive at similar times, and usually head straight for Blue Corner. The liveaboards have the luxury of hiiting these sites as a pre-breakfast dive, when more likely than not, you'll be the only boat there. For dive sites where you're using reef hooks, this makes a big difference to your enjoyment of the sites.
OP
ScubaMichael
Registered
Thanks for all the informations. This really helps
Damselfish
Contributor
We did the Aggressor and were very happy with it. Having one chase boat wasn't a problem, but we were traveling with a group that chartered the whole boat so that helps.
Travelnsj
Contributor
November and December can be iffy due to the weather. Mid Feb thru March generally has the best weather. The Sharks are also mating in March seen many of the females torn up...(they have rough sex)....If you do go on the Pacific explorer or the BBE.....I have talked to people who have been on the lower floors and they had problems with AC, sewer back up etc.....Top floors are better....I do only land based....but always heard great reviews about both Ocean Hunter and Aggressor.
I don't think sharks are Seasonal there we saw them on just about every dive. We dove the Ocean Hunter II and think it is one of the best live-aboards we have been on, we did have the Master Suite. The Ocean Hunter only takes 6 guest, even better. There is a trip report, gallery and slide show at our site: www.aquabluedreams.com
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