Palau work diving / visa

Hello,
Does anybody know if a US citizen can stay in Palau without a visa for 1-year? Also, what are the possibilities working as a divemaster at the local diveshops? Is the work mostly under the table? Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Andrew

You might want to contact someplace like Sam's directly. Palau is so small that it can be hard to do anything really under the table. Sam, for example, is the son of the Ibedul, one of the major chiefs. You certainly couldn't stay and work for a year without a work permit. but these may not be hard to get for divemasters.

Yes, you'll be stamped in for a year.

Sam, for example, is the son of the Ibedul, one of the major chiefs.

Not true, at least according to the story I heard on NPR this morning. They interviewed "Sam". He's American, first went to Palau in the early 80s, and is married to a local girl. He is perhaps the son-in-law of a local bigwig, but certainly not the son.

Sam, the Sam, was on NPR? Yikes- what was the story about? Sorry I missed it. And as for the rest of it, I'll check my sources. I was pretty sure he was a son but I could be misremembering. Nevertheless, the point remains- you can't get away with a lot someplace as small as Palau.

The story on NPR was about the new Palau residents, the Uighurs of Guantanamo fame. But the reporter touched on many aspects of life in Palau, including the tourist industry. Sam thought the free publicity was great.

Sam's mother married the Ibedul, hence Sam is his step-son.

From Islands magazine, August issue "my mother married a Paluan gentlemen who was serving in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Lewis......the next thing we know, my stepfather is being discharged and brought back to Palau to take over the position of high chief."

Last summer I had the pleasure of joining the Ibedul and some of his family for a weekend on his island, Ngemelis.

Ah- thanks Silvano.

Pleasure- interesting word. He is a interesting person. And the family is quite extensive.