Future Dates to be announced
Prices listed are per person:
Shared Room: $TBA
Private Room: $TBA
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Physical Challenge
Highlights
Make 13 dives! See the most beautiful dive spots the Pacific Ocean has to offer, visiting colorful destinations like Turtle Cove, Blue Holes, Ulong Channel, Shark City, Jellyfish Lake, and Peleliu Cut.
Visit WWII shipwrecks, like Chuyo Wreck or Iro Wreck
Resurface in Chandelier Cave, an incredible caving experience accessible to divers.
Overview
Scuba diving in friendly Palau
Dive into the pristine waters of this island paradise in Micronesia. Discover the colorful alien world beneath the waves. Far from the usual vacation spots, this cluster of islands is known to scuba divers worldwide as the ultimate diving destination.
When you aren’t diving enjoy the luxury of five-star resort accommodations. We have garden view rooms for our group; upgrades to an ocean view room are available. We’ve even scheduled in some time for you to get out and explore the island, or relax and use the spa facilities. Come take a Palau gay scuba diving holiday!
Day 1: Arrival
Palau is a gorgeous, unique destination, located far from our daily lives. We are happy to help arrange your travel to this tiny corner of the globe. Your arrival brings you into Palau on a Saturday, with an evening to relax and recover from your travels at your own pace. You’ll be met and transferred from the airport to our gorgeous tropical hotel. Guests may wish to meet and join up for an informal dinner.
Day 2: Island exploration and Dive Planning
You’ll have the day free to explore the island and relax or use the spa facilities before our afternoon dive planning session. We’ll meet our guides, who will walk us through the scheduled dives they’ve chosen for the week. They will also answer practical questions about our boating excursions, land tours, and points of interest for this spectacular dive adventure. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner together and get to know each other while sharing dive stories!
Days 3-7: Pristine Diving and historic WWII sites above and below the waves
Over the next five days, we’ll see some of the most beautiful dive spots the Pacific Ocean has to offer during 13 dives! Depending on group interest and ability, we will visit destinations with colorful names like Turtle Cove, Blue Holes, Ulong Channel, Shark City, Jellyfish Lake, and Peleliu Cut. The waters off of Palau are the site of several WWII shipwrecks, and we may visit Chuyo Wreck or Iro Wreck. Chandelier Cave is an incredible diving and caving experience.
We will also take a land tour of Peleliu Island, where Japanese forces held out for several months against American forces in 1944. Rusted machinery, tanks, bunkers, and memorials are being claimed by the dense tropical foliage at this historic site.
Day 8: Land-based adventure and relaxation
Dive safety experts suggest a minimum of 24 hours between your last dive and any high-altitude flights. So today is a free day to enjoy the other activities that Palau has to offer. Relax with a shopping trip for souvenirs in town, visit the bird sanctuary, enjoy a Jungle River cruise, or just relax by the pool. If you’re in the mood for more physical activity, we can arrange a kayaking or zip-lining adventure.
We’ll reconnect tonight for a relaxed farewell dinner.
Day 9: Departure
We’ll say goodbye today to glorious Palau, after being transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Price Includes
Price includes: Airport transfers to and from hotel; Luxurious Accommodation for 8 nights; 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners (including welcome and farewell), refreshments and snacks while on the boat; 13 Total dives over 5 days; Private vessel for our small group (max 10 divers); Excursion to dive in world-famous Jellyfish Lake; Land tour and diving at Peleliu Island; Diving and land tour permits; Nitrox up to 36%; Services of a knowledgeable HE Travel tour host (with a minimum number of participants); and Experienced local dive guides; and tanks and weights. HE Travel provides complimentary Medical & Evacuation Insurance for every US Resident on our group tours who does not have other coverage (please note that this covers any medical needs during this trip, EXCEPT any medical situations related to diving. See below).
Not included: Airfare to and from Palau; Hotel if needed during layover while in transit; Visa and passport fees (Citizens of US, Canada, western Europe and many other countries do not need visas); Diving equipment not listed above; Airport departure taxes; Alcoholic drinks or beverages not included with meals; Green fee (approx $50 cash); Personal items such as laundry, telephone calls, and gratuities for local guides and HE Travel tour host.
Optional Tour Choices:
Single Supplement Garden View Room (for solo travelers who wish to enjoy a private bedroom and bathroom)
Upgrade to Shared Ocean View Room (per person in a shared room)
Single Supplement Ocean View Room
Upgrade to Shared Ocean Front Room (per person in a shared room)
Single Supplement Ocean View Room
Equipment Rental: BCD, Dive Computer, Regulator, Backup Octopus
Dive insurance is not included in the price of the tour. One of the best dive insurance deals we know of is provided by DAN (Diver’s Alert Network), a dive safety organization that provides evacuation services (for both diving and non-diving related needs) for just $40-$125 per year, depending on what plan is chosen. We strongly recommend purchasing DAN or similar insurance for divers. For details call them at 800-446-2671; or see their website:
Tour Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance to protect your vacation investment in case of unforeseen circumstances such as flight delay, illness, or injury. Click Here to learn more about our Insurance partner.
Extensions
- What is the physical activity level of this tour?
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Physical Activity Level
Palau diving is intermediate to advanced diving but, since we work with a small operator, our guides cater to the level of the group. We will start off at the easier dive sites so people get used to Palau and get their buoyancy correct.
- Where does the tour start and end?
- Guests should arrive and depart from the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR) on Babeldaob Island, Palau.
- Are there any guidelines for tipping in Palau?
- Crew
We feel confident that the crew will work hard to make this trip a pleasure for you! We suggest a $50 to $100 tip at the end of the trip, which will be divided among the dive pros and boat captain.
HE Travel Tour Director
Tipping your HE Travel tour director is at your discretion. Rest assured that he works hard behind the scenes to ensure that your vacation is a wonderful, adventurous, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your HE Travel host is there to deal with any snags or hiccups so that you can enjoy your well earned holiday. We suggest $5 to $10 per day depending on the level of service you receive.
Restaurants
The customary tipping for waitstaff may already appear on your bill as a “service charge”. Please ask the server if you are unsure. Feel free to round up by 5 to 10% if you receive truly excellent service. When dining independently, you can use that guideline. For included meals we share together, your HE Travel host will take care of the bill and tips, unless stated otherwise before the meal.
- Do I need to be an experienced diver to enjoy Palau?
- Palau diving is intermediate to advanced diving but, since we work with a small operator, our guides cater to the level of the group. We will start off at the easier dive sites so people get used to Palau and get their buoyancy correct.
The average depth of diving in Palau is 60-80 feet. Ninety percent of the diving in Palau is wall diving so you can really choose what depth you want to stay at on the walls, usually around 60 ft. Our guides will be in the water with the guests and we always tell the guests not to go deeper than the guides.
We recommend PADI certification: across the globe, it is the most widely-accepted certification.
- My partner doesn't dive. Will there be anything else to do on Palau?
- There is so much to see and do on the islands of Palau! Check out this great article in SF Gate Newspaper!
- Is a wetsuit necessary?
- A 2-3 mm wetsuit is recommended. The average water temperature in Palau is 80 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. You might be able to do a single dive or two in these waters without needing a wetsuit. But over the course of a week, you’ll want the extra thermal protection.
- Can I get insurance for dive trips?
- We recommend you contact DAN, the Diver's Alert Network, which has several programs available for scuba divers, including medical insurance. Their TravelAssist program even covers emergency medical, travel, and personal assistance for non-diving as well as diving needs. You can call them at 800-446-2671; or see the Diver's Alert website.
- What are accommodations like?
- We will be staying at the Pacific Palau Resort, a luxurious beachside property featuring tropical gardens, stunning sunsets, and a sparkling pool. All rooms are “Garden View”, with the option of upgrading to Ocean View or Ocean Front (see Price Includes tab). Wi-Fi is available in the lobby, but won’t be as fast as we’re accustomed to. Hotel beds in Palau are traditionally two twin beds that are pushed together for couples, or separated for roommates.