Route Description - Palau Islands
Blue Corner consistently ranks among the best dive sites in the world and so is known by scuba divers far and wide. However, Palau has a plethora of other exciting, world class dive sites to explore. Fundamentally a huge shallow turquoise lagoon surrounded by huge drop offs into the Pacific Ocean, currents feeding into the shallow waters mean corals and schooling fish are fighting for space everywhere. Couple this with the channels that feed into the lagoons and you now have mantas and sharks by the dozen! A true scuba diver's paradise.
The Palau Islands liveaboard scuba diving adventure provides a mix of reef diving, drifts and sunset or night dives. As there entire country’s waters are designated as a shark sanctuary, reef sharks and manta rays can be seen in abundance and there are also many smaller creatures that warrant attention; stunning hard coral reefs, caves and caverns, a wreck and the famous channel diving in this area are just a few of the highlights that make Palau such a great diving destination.
The diving is generally suitable for all experience levels although many of the channels have strong currents and reef hooks are an essential piece of diving equipment.
PLEASE NOTE:
Diving on these itineraries focuses on 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.
Departing from Malakal Harbour, Palau Siren will head into the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, before heading down to Peleliu. The sites, and order in which they are visited, vary from one trip to the next, depending upon conditions, with each cruise being specifically tailored so that you have the best experiences possible visiting the three main areas of diving in Palau; Ulong, Ngemelis and Peleliu.
On a typical day we offer up to 4 dives; 3 day dives and, where possible, a sunset or night dive*. 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
--Dinner
*Where land tours are offered, only 3 dives will be possible