|
Revised November 30, 2006
Palau is home to over 700 species of corals and over 1300 species of fish. This is testament to the fact that the warm tropical waters of Palau have the most diverse marine life anywhere in Micronesia. There are more than 60 dive sites and 60 wrecks. Some of the dive sites we will visit are the world famous Blue Corner, Big Drop-Off, Yellow Wall, the Blue Holes. We will also visit Chandelier Cave, World War II wrecks, and a special treat, Devil Fish City, a dive site not on the usual schedule. The critters you will see range from manta rays, sharks, mandarin fish, Napoleon wrasse, and arranged just for us, the deep water nautilus. We will visit the incredible Jellyfish Lake where millions of non-stinging jellies envelop you in green gelatinous water. Scuba Diving Magazine rated Palau the top destination for wall diving and second best overall dive destination in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
Our host in Palau is NECO Marine. Started in 1984 in a cargo container on the shoreline, Shallum and Mandy Etpison have grown NECO Marine into the premier dive operation in Palau, now working out of a $3 million facility. The name originates with Shallum's late father, the former president of Palau, Ngiratkel Etpison who found the NECO group of companies in 1945. He started the first tourist and sightseeing business in the 1970s and opened the Palau Pacific Resort in 1984. Today NECO is a group of over 30 companies, including the Palau Aggressor II and sister dive operation Splash.
The Cliffside Hotel, under the new ownership of the NECO Group of Companies, is a fully renovated, modern and beautifully decorated hotel. All the rooms are air conditioned and equipped with cable TV, DVD player, refrigerator with minibar service, personal amenities, and breathtaking views.
The new aluminum boat Tekrar (Palauan for sailfish) is the NECO Marine's flagship. The 42-foot jet-driven boat is powered by twin Yamaha 570hp diesel engines. The boat boasts both a rapid top speed of 35 knots and all the luxuries and modern conveniences spoiled travelers like us appreciate. Tekrar's facilities include large covered areas to shelter from the sun, dry storage areas for dive gear, a dedicated camera table and, of course, a marine head. The boat is designed to carry 18 divers plus crew, in total comfort.
Tour includes
9 nights at the new Cliffside Hotel
7 days of 3-tank dives from the Tekrar
Breakfast daily (9 days)
Lunch and beverages on the boat (7 days)
Koror State permit
Peleliu permit
Fishing permit
Devil Fish City permit
Nautilus dive
Mandarin fish dusk dive
Jellyfish Lake
Boat guides, weights and belt
Roundtrip airfare from LAX
Taxes and transfers
Not included: gratuities, Visa fee, fuel surcharge (if
applicable), departure tax.
Package Cost $4,237
All rates per person double occupancy
Single supplement available
Options on Diving
Options on Accommodations
What
is the water temperature?
The water temperature averages between 82° to 85°F year-round.
What kind of wetsuit do I need?
While a thin 1/8" may get you by, if you tend to chill, we recommend
no less than a 3mm full wetsuit. We always suggest you pack a polartec vest
and hood, just in case… If you plan on purchasing a new suit, we recommend
the new Xcel 5/4/3 suit which will keep you warm in tropical locations where
the water may be in the high 70s.
What is the vis?
The visibility ranges from 60 to 100 feet. On the outer reefs and walls, visibility
usually exceeds 100 feet.
When is the rainy season?
The wet season is between May and September. February to April is considered
the dry season, but typically it rains about one day each week.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber?
Palau has a new two-man recompression chamber in Koror. We will limit our
dives to 100 feet. Safe diving procedures will be discussed at all dive briefings.
We will have no need to use the recompression chamber.
Is diving insurance required?
Yes.
For more information on Palau, click here to read Cara Sherman's review of Palau in Dive Training Magazine.