Tahiti versus Palau in October/November? Walls and interesting features in Tahiti??

[FredGarvin]

I have just read that great trip report re: Fakarava. I am planning a trip to the South Pacific for either late October or November 2008, i.e. soon. I was told that time frame is a bit early for the best dive conditions in Palau. Also, my two dive buddies are both very susceptible to motion/sea sickness. I am not. So we need a land based location. My buddies also insist on very nice accommodations and good food. They are not the "rough it " types. We have been eye balling the Palau Pacific Hotel and Sam's Dive operation. One of my dive buddies is an experienced diver. He insists on diving big walls and likes pass-troughs. We both like big fish too, but we have a preference for topological underwater features and, because of my buddies' sea sickness propensity, want short boat rides too.

Any thoughts about Fakarava & Rangeroia versus Palau? Were there wall dives in Fakarava and other interesting features besides the sharks?

Thank you.
The "Garvelous"

 

[jfcl01]

Ask Travlnsj...he's been to both more than once.

 

[FredGarvin]

Ask Travlnsj...he's been to both more than once.

Thanks for your response Jfcl01. I have actually been in touch with him. He is a terrific resource and very helpful chap. I was looking for others' input just to get some varied opinions.

Safe & Happy Diving,
The Garvelous

 

[Travelnsj]

Ask Travlnsj...he's been to both more than once.

Thanks for the vote of confidance....I wish I had been to Rangiroa and Fakarava twice! Working on that for fall 09.

Overall IMHO Palau has much more Bio diversity, more dive sites, WWII wrecks....Chance the weather.....But the Tuamotu's is great diving.

 

[Diver Lori]

I just got back from Tahiti. We dived Rangiroa, Bora Bora and Moorea. Bora Bora and Moorea were ho-hum....nothing I haven't seen before elsewhere better. Rangiroa, on the other hand was some rocknroll diving, worth the trip. I will warn you.... I get seasick very easily and I did.

We stayed at Kia Ora and dived with Top Dive on Rangiroa. Marco and Katie at TopDive are top notch. Sorry I can't say the same for Top Dive at the other two islands.

 

[CARHILL]

Your high maintance dive buddies will not be disapointed in the PPR if you go to Palau. How much time do you have for the trip? What type of diving do you like?

Dale Still on a little rock in the Pacific in a shack with a hammoc out back.

 

[charlesml3]

The Palau Princess is very nice and you'll get great food there. The requirement for "short boat rides" is a concern. Blue Hole and Blue Corner are 50 minutes or so away. German Channel and Uulong are a bit closer. There are a few wrecks that are pretty close but that's about it.

Have you considered a liveaboard in Palau? The ships stay inside the barrier reef so there's pretty much zero rocking of the ship.

-Charles