Truk & Palau

[diverchuck]

I am going to Truk and Palau in a few weeks and will be staying at Truk Blue Lagoon and the Palau Pacific. Any pointers anyone has? Must see, must NOT see etc.... I am an experienced diver but have heard the currents can be pretty strong. True? Anything to be concerned about?
Is it true that the natives do not appreciate it if tourists (especially women) have shorts that are above the knee? Will I feel comfortable wearing shorts that are above the knee and tank tops?
Any advice is

 

[Mike Veitch]

Is it true that the natives do not appreciate it if tourists (especially women) have shorts that are above the knee? Will I feel comfortable wearing shorts that are above the knee and tank tops?
Any advice is

That is in Yap. Not sure about Truk but in Palau they dress like anywhere in the US.
I would suggest diving with Sam's Tours in Palau, they are the best and will pick you up at the PPR.
Currents can be strong but only on a couple of the corner dives like Peleliu and Blue Corner. The rest of the dives are just regular drifts.
Follow and listen to your guides and you won't have any problems.

 

[Albion]

I am going to Truk and Palau in a few weeks and will be staying at Truk Blue Lagoon and the Palau Pacific. Any pointers anyone has? Must see, must NOT see etc.... I am an experienced diver but have heard the currents can be pretty strong. True? Anything to be concerned about?
Is it true that the natives do not appreciate it if tourists (especially women) have shorts that are above the knee? Will I feel comfortable wearing shorts that are above the knee and tank tops?
Any advice is

I agree about sams, nice shop looked after us well. Yeah some strong currents in palau but listen to breifings an dit should be covered, blue corner is still my favourite dive and ive done a shedload since doing it. I ddint stay at either of your hotels but did go to both of them for dinner and both v nice, and sort of away from the general populace. We were told it could get a bit 'tense' down town and we did get a few stares when when walking around (dont think many of the divers in general go off the resorts). Nothing i would be worried about just common sense issues, not alone dark places etc.

oh i forgot, have a great time

 

[grahamsp]

Palau is sensational - just got back from a week on the Big Blue Explorer.

But a few points:

• It's low season and for a very good reason - the weather. At this time of year, the low latitudes within which Palau lies (around 7º North) are the spawing grounds for the tropical depressions that can and in some cases do track north and turn into full blown cyclones (aka hurricanes). Whilst Palau is generally too far south to suffer, the depressions can kick up a strong swell from the southwest which can make the best dive sites (Blue Corner, Siaes Cave, Blue Holes etc.) undivable. We were lucky - we dived all the brochure sites. But for the previous 6 weeks most of them had been marginal to impossible.

• Palau is the place to use a liveaboard if at all possible. The reason is that the transit from Koror is so long that a two-tank day can be 7 to 8 hours long, much of it flogging to and from the best dive sites to the southwest. If a liveaboard is not possible, consider staying on Peleliu which is much closer.

• As for the diving, it's certainly challenging not to say downright hairy (Peleliu Express in particular). So do the research - pick the right operator and make sure your own capabilities and safety equipment are up to the task.

I don't mean to put you off. We had a wonderful week and I would go back there tomorrow, wrong season or not!

 

[Chris Bangs]

Palau has ben well covered! this tear has been unusually nasty due to the typhoons. these usually pass far north of Palau and Yap, but not this year.

as for Chuuk ( truk ) Blue lagoon has been getting some negative reports. Truk Stop on the other hand is rated very well.

Nitrox is recomended!

Kindest Regards

Chris

 

[Ancient Mariner]

When we were in Chuuk, women were definitly not to show their knees on the street. Some of our group had to purchase coverups so as to not be stared at and otherwise made to feel uncomfortable.
The diving at both places was sensational, and after complying with the dress code we found the natives hospitable.

 

[donacheson]

I am going to Truk and Palau in a few weeks and will be staying at Truk Blue Lagoon and the Palau Pacific. Any pointers anyone has? Must see, must NOT see etc.... I am an experienced diver but have heard the currents can be pretty strong. True? Anything to be concerned about?
Is it true that the natives do not appreciate it if tourists (especially women) have shorts that are above the knee? Will I feel comfortable wearing shorts that are above the knee and tank tops?
Any advice is

Shorts much above the knee are not appropriate in Truk. I don't know about Palau.

 

[Albion]

as for Chuuk ( truk ) Blue lagoon has been getting some negative reports. Truk Stop on the other hand is rated very well.
Chris

i was there in 2000 and had this story so booked into truk stop, it sucked compared to bliue lagoon, how recent is your information?

 

[chuck e]

I dove Truk with the Odyssey in 2001 and spent a day at the Blue Lagoon after the trip. Very nice resort considering where it is. Must dive is the Fujikawa, there is no current in the lagoon. Dress code seems to apply to women more than men, particularly if going to church, etc.

 

[fbosch]

please let us know how things go and post lots of pics. I am interested to know how the coral is growing back in Palau after the bleaching events of 96 and 99.

Much color was lost but there was signs of new growth

I stayed at the manta ray bay in yap but traders ridge was really spactacular (reccomended)

I also think a live aboard is the way to go in palau, 90 minutes to the dive sites through the wind and some rain.

1 stay healthy
2 dont overdo it , overdive etc, sleep alot when you first get there to get over the jet lag
3 drink lots of water on the planes
4 dont blast the AC

I over-did it and got very sick and had to abort a dive at blue corner , the needed lots of antibiotics and steroids to be able to fly again