Snorkeling off Palau

We are avid snorkelers and do free diving but not scuba. On Palau can we arrange day trips that are not private charters to many of the best snorkel areas within an hour or so of Palau? I know they go to Jelly Fish Lake but we are much more interested in going to different reef areas to enjoy the variety of coral, fish species and sea anenemies. It's a long trip from NY and we would stay for 8 or 9 days and likely would want to go out each day sometimes for 2-3 hours and others for more distant places if the locations offer different underwater pleasures. What organization might we contact to take us out with a few other guests from other resorts so that the cost are resonable? Thanks.

Most snorkeling is done with divers. Many of the places they go are equally wonderful for snorkeling. However, usually it is not 2-3 hours but rather most of the day. But since it is so beautiful this rarely is a problem. Coming back through the rock islands late afternoon as the sun is beginning to dip remains one of my most very favorite experiences. You might contact Sam's and see if he is doing any snorkeling only trips. Don't miss jelly fish lake though- it is an amazing experience. I do have a friend who does private trips but don't know how you would find people to share the boat.

There are several groups that do snorkel tours in Palau to popular snorkeling sites such as Milky Way. These are all-day trips, however. IMPAC is a group that caters primarily to Japanese tourists, but was recommended by several people (their guides speak English. Apparently, the bento box lunch is the best option).

If you want to snorkel on your own, you might head up to Kayangel where you can loaf on the pristine beaches and snorkel inside the protective reef. However, this snorkeling is not as pretty as what you get on the all-day boat trips in the Rock Islands (although you will see giant clams). I didn't make it to Anguar, but heard there was snorkeling there as well.

You can see Giant Clams in the Rock Islands, too.

I didn't mean to imply that there weren't giant clams elsewhere (I am guessing there are more impressive giant clams in the rock islands). Merely, that the presence of giant clams close to the beach (and also right off the dock) helped compensate for less impressive coral. I could spend hours just hovering over the giant clams.