Diving in Palau: Hotel or Liveaboard

Hi,

My boyfriend and I are planning for a 7 days trip in Palau. Both of us are advanced divers. We wonder whether liveaboard or staying in a hotel would be a better choice. Any liveaboard boat or hotel you could recommend?

Thanks a lot

Depends on whether you are going only for diving or also to see some of what is on land. As far as hotels (never did a liveaboard) that depends on your budget. If cost is not an option, I would recommend the Palau Pacific Resort.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend a liveaboard. There are many incredible dive sites that were inaccessible for land-based dive operators. I dived with M/V Ocean Hunter II. The captain, dive crew and boat were very good, almost excellent.

(Insider's advice: if you opt for OHII, don't do the $40 Peleliu land tour!)

I stayed one night at Lehn's Motel & Apt ($50 + $10 airport transfer) on Koror. A very nice hotel in a beautiful residential area. This spacious one-bedroom suite included a kitchenette with a view of the lush tree canopy.

I also stayed 2 nights at the VIP Guest Hotel ($60/airport transfer included; almost as good as Lehn's and closer to the main road). This clean, well-run place also provided complimentary morning coffee with a view of the city and the ocean beyond. They accept credit cards.

The majority of the divers on my liveaboard stayed at PPR. I took a taxi to PPR from my hotel ($5) for a sunset beach photo shoot, and to join them for dinner at the PPR seafood buffet ($40).

Have a great dive trip!

Why wouldn't you do the land tour? There is some astonishing stuff still on Peleliu- bit pricey yes, but if you are at all interested in WWII Pacific stuff- the Japanese headquaters is worth the price of admission.

Peleliu is a fascinating site filled with historical remants of one of the worst battles in the Pacific. I did experience eerie and powerful emotions as I climbed Bloody Nose Ridge, explored the Japanese hollowed-out caves, and looked down the barrel of a canon toward the ocean, invisioning an scene of warships bobbing in the sea. I wept when I understood the ramification that it was recommended this Marine landing be canceled.

Reasons to omit the Peleliu land tour:
1. A self guided tour would have been more informative and made much more of an emotional impact. Battle of Peleliu
2. One could walk (prepare to be hot) to many of the interesting sites and enjoy the fascinating floral/fauna (as well as relics) along the roadside. The island is 5 square miles.
3. I would have elected not to stop at the local store to hang out and drink (no locals, just us 19+ tourists). Spending the time exploring other sites would have been far more interesting to me.
4. My tour did not stop at the Japanese headquarters but did do a drive-by.
5. Save $40

Reasons to include the tour:
1. Access to the interior of the locked Peleliu museum containing a small collection of war artifacts and memorabilia.
2. Vehicle transportation is available.
3. Access to a guide to identify the relics as the tourist mini-van drives by.

A reasonably priced tour would be a better option.

Ah- just my son and I toured around. No drinking, no other tourists, and somewhat less than $40 each- I think we paid a total of $75, which I still though was a lot. But having a private tour would make a difference.

There weren't 19+ tourists on island when we were there. Only a couple of other folks. And it is a shame you didn't stop at the headquarters- it is an amazing site, although 19 people touring around it might be risky. The museum is also worth while, although it is quite simple and primitive as museums go. I may also have gotten a slightly upgraded tour since my kiddo is Palauan and I count as a semi-local.