Yap and Palau

We are thinking Yap and Palau.
Has anyone been?
Best dive operators?

mag3...

I'm doing Sam's in February. I'm taking the "Blue Corner" PADI specialty course and
a few of the other spots. A total of about 15 logged dives + Kayaking and Jellyfish Lake.

mag3...

The course itself is only $75.00 + the regular cost of 2 2-tank dives, + the reef hook rental (or purchase)
and the necessary permit fees to dive in Palau (which, if you go for more than 2 days of diving, you have to
pay both the regular and the Pelieu fee as well. As far as "qualifications" go, I think this is one of those

mag3...

I'd rather have my hands free for the u/w cameras etc.

PADI "Distinctive Specialty" courses like "Underwater Naturalist" or "AWARE - Fish Identification" and the
like. Doesn't really qualify you for anything, but it does give you another "specialty" rating and it counts
toward "Master Scuba Diver" (which I'm already qualified for anyway.... just need 5 more logged dives).
Maybe the one thing you do learn in the course is how to use a "reef hook" in the strong currents of the Blue
Corner.

I should point out that the course itself only requires two 2-tank dives, I said 15 dives because that's how
many I expect to do during the entire trip (actually 17). Oh, and free Nitrox to those certified for it.

mag3...

____________________________________________

The only thing is, I hear that Sam's "Jellyfish Lake" tour is not the "classic" Jellyfish Lake but their own
private version. I think I want to see the "real" one.

Best hotel?

mag3...

You mean Koror, Palau, right? That's where I'm booked, actually.

Reef Fish...

Anyone who can mistake PPR for something at YAP must have been
completely narked during the entire trip!

Really dumb routing. Must have been booked by some rookie Travel
Agent.

Reef Fish...

How about LAX to HNL ot Guam, then onto Koror? Going to Narita
is way out of the way, so is HKG.

I am in HKG now. The EWR - HKG flight is 16:25 hours. But on CO's
International Business First, it's the most comfortable and restful 16+
non stop hours you'll ever fly.

I am enjoying my evening Hor d'oeuvres at the HK Conrad now, using
my free wireless internet access while anjoying the harbor view from
the 59th floor.

Is the only way to get there on Continental via Hawaii, Guam?

mag3...

Or Hong Kong as well. That's what I'm doing. CO 99 EWR---> HKG and then CS flights through to GUM--->ROR and
back the same way to HKG for CO 98 Home.

Rocky Grove...

I agree with Dan, liveaboard is the best options to save long boat
rides. I was on the Agressor in August this year. had a good time.

You can fly Continental or another airline which flies via Dacos both
both from Manila in the Philippines

Any suggestions?