Route Description - New Moon Spawning (10 nights)
The 10 nights Special New moon spawning, liveaboard scuba diving itinerary on Palau Siren offers guests something truly exceptional. Divers joining these cruises will have a chance to witness one of the most spectacular natural events on earth; the spawning aggregations of the bumphead parrotfish (bolbomeotpon muricatum) that occur at new moon lunar cycles.
Our New Moon Spawning liveaboard itineraries are scheduled to coincide with the period when thousands of bumphead parrotfish gather in one area of Palau each month to procreate. Around the time when this event is expected to occur, your Cruise Director will give a number of informative presentations about the unique spawning dives which make this liveaboard diving adventure truly special.
Please note that these dives are only for the experienced diver as there can often be very strong currents at the sites where the action is happening.
Diving on these itineraries is mostly within the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a day at Peleliu. The islands have narrow channels and current flows that change with the tides making navigation around some parts of the lagoon more ideally suited to the skiff tenders. Additionally, Palau Siren and all other liveaboards in Palau are mandated to use specific mooring areas and anchorage points scattered around the Rock Islands, meaning that cruising within the lagoon and around the islands is minimal. Dive groups are dropped off and picked up at the dives sites by the skiffs with transfer between the main vessel and most dive locations usually taking 5-15 minutes depending on where Palau Siren is anchored.
In addition to the spawning dives, on some itineraries we offer the opportunity to experience Blackwater diving in Palau. Imagine rolling off the boat in the pitch black of night, sometimes many miles away from the shallow water of the reefs, to watch one of the all manner of weird and wonderful creatures from the depths head closer to the surface to feed.
On a typical day we offer a total of up to 4 dives; 3 day dives and a sunrise, sunset or night dive depending on spawning times. The diving day is scheduled as follows:
Light Breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1
Full Breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3
Snack relaxation period, briefing and Dive 4 (where possible)
Dinner
*Where land tours are offered, only 3 dives will be possible